during the 1920s and 1930s the new gate became the nearest gate to the modern city jerusalem with the christian brothers' college located just inside its structure in the old city. at this time the new gate, as all gates to the old city, included an iron gate which was operated by the police, and shut as required by the administrative regulations. on the afternoon of friday, 23 august 1929, an unprovoked attack was staged by the arabs from the old city between the new and damascus gates that resulted in the killing of several jews after the arabs were inflamed by the sermons during the noon prayers at "haram esh sherif". from 1946 and until independence the british administration created a security zone between the new gate and jaffa road, called euphemistically "bevingrad" for ernest bevin, due to the terrorist activity from both sides. on november 15, 1945 the stern gang attempted to demolish part of the wall next to the new gate, using a massive device that required ten men to transport and emplace; however it failed to function.