Mea Shearim, this week
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Haredim riot in Bnei Brak, J'lem: We'll fill up prisons
Hundreds block roads in capital, hurl stones, set bins on fire. In Bnei Brak, some 200 youths protest removal of ancient graves in Jaffa
After two days of calm – riots resume in the capital. Hundreds of haredim from Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood on Wednesday clashed with police and blocked roads, while chanting "We'll fill up prisons."
The protestors blocked Shivtei Israel Street and attempted to block another road, but were pushed back by the police. Protestors also hurled stones at police officers and set garbage bins on fire.
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Rioting at both locations come in response to construction work at Jaffa's Andromeda complex, where ancient Jewish tombstones are located.
Rioting has centered in Bnei Brak in the past two days, and was mainly carried out by Shababnikim – young haredi youths that are considered "outsiders."
In Jerusalem, on the other hand, there were two days of relative calm after Monday's incident in which Interior Minister Eli Yishai was stoned while one his way to offer condolences. The perpetrators were affiliated with an extremist faction called the “Sikrikim” belonging to Neturei Karta.
Yoav Zitun contributed to this report
