Peaceful protest, for a change: For the first time in three months, haredi demonstrators in Jerusalem held a peaceful rally to protest the opening of a disputed parking lot on Shabbat.
The peaceful demonstration followed calls by Eda Haredit sect leader Rabbi Weiss to refrain from violence and stay away from the Karta parking lot. Leaflets issued by the Eda Haredit made it clear that young men and children were to stay away from the protests.
"In addition, don't do anything that could risk lives, don't step onto the road and stop cars…and don't commit any violent acts such as stone throwing, spitting, cursing and such," the leaflets read. "The public will be responsible for not doing these things, because they cause damage to us and gravely undermine the holy campaign for the honor of the Shabbat."
Following the latest instructions, about 1,000 haredim gathered to protest quietly outside the ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood.
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Meanwhile, large police forces have been deployed outside Mea Shearim, but no clashes have been reported between them and the protestors. Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen also arrived at the site in order to closely monitor the situation.
The peaceful demonstration Saturday follows a worrying escalation in violence earlier this week, when police officers were forced to use stun grenades and tear gas to disperse haredi protestors. One policeman who felt threatened by the crowds also fired several warning shots in the air.
The haredi protest has been going on for three months, since Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat decided to keep a municipal parking lot open on Shabbat.
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