Rally in Sheikh Jarrah (Archives)
Photo: AP
Haredi lightly hurt in Sheikh Jarrah clash
Leftists accompanying group of Christians say attacked by ultra-Orthodox in east Jerusalem neighborhood; local Arabs confront Jews. 'Police searched only for Arabs,' leftist claims
An ultra-Orthodox man was lightly injured Monday during a brawl between a group of haredim and Arabs in east Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
The man was injured from a stone that hit his head.
Left-wing activists, who were visiting the neighborhood along with a group of Christians, said the fight broke out when they were attacked by haredim.
A police force that was dispatched to the scene broke up the fight and arrested a man on suspicion of throwing stones.
According to the left-wing activists, some 20 ultra-Orthodox began hurling stones at them as they were making their way towards the tomb of Shimon Hatzadik.
The leftists and Christians fled the compound and called for help. Shortly thereafter a group of local Arabs arrived at the scene and confronted the haredim. One of the Arabs threw a stone and lightly injured one of the Jews.
"A large group of haredim approached from the direction of the Shimon Hatzadik compound. They began cursing and throwing stones," leftist Daneil Argo recounted.
"When the locals came to the Christians' assistance the haredim fled, and police forces only searched for the Arabs. This is yet another testament to the injustice here," he said.
For the past seven months, left-wing activists and Palestinians have held weekly protests in Sheikh Jarrah against the takeover of Palestinian homes by groups of settlers.
