Police, leftists clash in east J'lem

YTNEWS-Some 150 left-wing activists from the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity group on Friday protested across the new Jewish neighborhood of Ma'ale HaZeitim, built on the outskirts of Ras al-Amud in east Jerusalem.


During the demonstration, a violent clash erupted between police forces and the protesters, who blocked the entrance to the neighborhood. Police officers responded with use of force and stun guns.


Six protesters were arrested during the incident, and the organizers claimed several activists were injured, one needing medical treatment.



Watch clashes in Ras al-Amud

The police stated in response that its officers used reasonable force against the rioting protesters.


Meanwhile, at another location in the neighborhood, near the mosque, residents hurled stones at a police force. No injuries were reported.


Asaf Sharon from Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity claimed that the police used extremely violent force against the protesters, adding that police officers used stun guns for the first time, although there was no provocation on the part of the protesters.

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"We held a protest rally against the settlement two days after the settlers themselves held a mass event, during which they blocked access roads without police intervention," he said.


Sharon noted that one of the injured protesters, who was also arrested by the police, is among the movement's leaders. "We have a total of 10 injured, two of which were wounded by the stun gun," he said, adding that "one of them needed medical treatment."