(VINnews) — Violence is escalating in the Nachlat Shimon neighborhood of East Jerusalem Thursday night. Arabs began setting fire to vehicles of Jewish residents in the neighborhood and attacked with stones. Jewish residents who felt threatened, pulled out pistols and fired at the rioters.

The violence is escalating due to a new ruling that will see Arabs evicted from pre-1948 Jewish houses, as they refused to pay rent and did not recognize Jewish ownership there.

The Jewish residents previously offered a deal to make Arabs living there protected tenants until their death. However, the Arabs refused the deal, as this would recognize Jewish ownership.

Thus, they will now be thrown out, unless there is a legitimate appeal.