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| Ultra-Orthodox Jews assaulting police officers |
(Scroll down for video) Another seven ultra-Orthodox Jews were arrested today after they threw stones at Israeli police officer in the city of Beit Shemesh, according to police reports.
About one hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews held more protests today against what they see as the desecration of Jewish graves at the Goloventzitz construction site in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
The clashes erupted after the ultra-Orthodox Jews, who claim that there are hundreds of Jewish graves at the construction site, attacked police officers and security guards while calling them Nazis and murderers.
One of the guards responded to the insults by throwing stones at the ultra-Orthodox Jews. Police said he was arrested for questioning and the private security company has fired him.
Police said that an officer of the Border Guard was slightly injured during clashes with the ultra-Orthodox Jews.
One protester suffered a head injury after he assaulted a police officer at the site. Police said a total of seven ultra-Orthodox Jews were arrested today.
As we reported earlier, police have arrested and intend to charge 19 ultra-Orthodox Jews after they rioted in the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, according to police reports.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews affiliated with the Asra Kadisha organization, a unit of the Meah Shearim-based ultra-Orthodox Jewish organization Edah Haredit, rioted in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh this morning after police arrested 19 Asra Kadisha members. Approximately 100 protesters, who tried to block the construction of a building site in Beit Shemesh, rioted and attacked police officers.
Asra Kadisha claims that the buildings are being built on ancient Jewish tombs, but the claim was not accepted by ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis, who are not affiliated with the Edah Haredit.
After the arrests took place in Beit Shemesh, ultra-Orthodox Jews continued to riot, burning trash cans and blocking roads. A very large police force eventually dispersed the rioters.
When the news of the arrests reached Jerusalem, ultra-Orthodox Jews set trash bins on fire and blocked roads in the Meah Shearim and Geula neighborhoods.
Despite the unrest, the construction work at the site in Beit Shemesh continues with police guarding the area.