Jerusalem Police have detained six far Right activists, headed by National Jewish Front leader Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben Gvir, for causing disturbances near the Jaffa Gate in east Jerusalem to protest Palestinian voting in the capital.
Police officials said the group of rightists was detained after attempting to confront police officers.
At the same time, Knesset Members and National Union party members Effie Eitam and Arieh Eldad arrived at the Jaffa Gate with the intention of of entering a Palestinian polling station near the gate.
'Jerusalem is ours, Amman is yours'
The two carried signs bearing the messages "we are guarding Jerusalem against the attempt to hold elections for the Palestinian parliament in east Jerusalem" and "Jerusalem is ours – Amman is yours."
According to the Knesset members, the police's Old City commander told them they were banned from entering the post office near the Jaffa Gate being used as a PA elections polling station.
Eitam said the ban was violating the immunity of Knesset members that allows them free movement in all areas of the country. The two
MKs stood outside the polling station for several minutes and turned to Jerusalem Police Chief Ilan Franco with a demand to be allowed into the post office.
Eitam also telephoned Interior Minister Gideon Ezra and said he demanded the right of access into the post office. According to Eitam, Ezra said that he was not aware of the ban and that he would clarify the issue with the police commissioner.
An hour later, Ezra told Eitam and Eldad that he was banning them from entering the post office out of fear that they would cause disturbances in the area.
Eitam told Ezra that "the police are cynically using a baseless claim that was designed to deprive the freedom of movement of Knesset members within Jerusalem."
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