Jerusalem prepares for another violent Shabbat

The Jerusalem police are preparing to deploy in great numbers across the city this weekend, ahead of what authorities believe will be another violent Shabbat in light of planned ultra-Orthodox rallies against the opening of the Karta parking lot.

Mayor Nir Barkat received threats to his life this week over the controversial decision to keep the parking lot open, and leaders of the prominent Haredi Community stream have already promised that the demonstration Saturday afternoon will be "very hot."

Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld, head of Jerusalem's Committee for the Shabbat, told Ynet that "Unlike last week, when it was just a bunch of kids, this time we'll see something much stormier." He added that on Saturday the leaders of the Haredi Community will join the march.

Ultra-Orthodox leaders promise violence (Photo: AFP)

Hundreds of police and Border Guard officers will deploy in the ultra-orthodox neighborhoods of the capital, and mainly in Mea Shearim. Police sources told Ynet they plan to allow "a quiet, legitimate rally," but vowed zero tolerance in response to violence.

Fifty-seven haredim were arrested during last week's demonstrations and some of them have already been indicted.

Mayor Barkat met with haredi city council members Thursday for what was later defined as a "positive" discussion of the controversial issue. However, contrary to rumors, none of the members has threatened to resign his post over the matter, a fact that was highly criticized by many in the ultra-Orthodox public.

Kobi Nahshoni, Efrat Weiss and Ronen Medzini contributed to the report