Dozens of right-wing activists blocked Herzl Boulevard at the entrance to Jerusalem Monday evening to protest the recent detention of rabbis by the Israel Police.
Police detain 5 rioter (Photo: Noam Moscowitz)
Protestors also blocked roads near the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva and attempted to block Jerusalem's light rail. Other rioters damaged a pipe near the Chords Bridge in the capital.
Police forces dispersed the protestors using mounted officers and water cannons. Five rioters were detained, including a boy.
At one point, police also directed motorists arriving in Jerusalem via Highway 1 to another road in order to ensure that they avert the protests.
Earlier Monday, Thousands of protestors arrived in Jerusalem in a massive show of support for Rabbis Dov Lior and Yaakov Yosef who were arrested last week for their endorsement of the King's Torah – a book said to encourage the killing of non-Jews.
Speaking at the event, Rabbi Lior declared that "the role of rabbis is to guide and instruct the public."
"By us the prosperity of the Torah and uniqueness of the Torah have not been bridled. The role of Israel's rabbis is to explain the Torah," he said.