Haredim, police clash in Jerusalem
Ultra-Orthodox protestors upset over opening of parking lot in Jerusalem clash with police Saturday; in separate incident, two religious Jews reportedly stabbed by seculars during brawl in capital
The demonstrators headed out of the haredi Mea Shearim neighborhood in the capital and attempted to break through police roadblocks at the site, while hurling stones at the forces. Meanwhile, dozens of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators arrived at the disputed parking lot, where police have deployed in advance.
One demonstrator was detained and taking in for interrogation after lying in front of a bus at the site.No injuries were reported in the protest's initial stages.
In a separate incident earlier Saturday, two religious Jews were stabbed and another was beaten in a fight with secular Jews in Jerusalem.
The three wounded men were hospitalized with moderate wounds, said Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby. The assailants fled and there were no arrests, Ben-Ruby said.
He said the wounded men told police they were attacked by secular Jews but that no further details would be available until the men could be interviewed again on Saturday evening.
Last week, thousands of haredim protested across the capital in an effort to avert the opening of the Karta parking lot. During the clashes, rioters directed harsh derogatory terms at security forces, including "Nazis" and "anti-Semites." The riots peaked a week earlier, as 57 ultra-Orthodox protestors were detained on suspicion of attacking police officers.
AP contributed to the report
