Hareidi religious protesters returned to the parking lot near Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to rally against use of the facility on the Sabbath.
The city began operating the multi-storied “Karta” parking lot on the Sabbath two years ago, a move that has drawn fierce anger from mostly anti-Zionist hareidi-religious leaders.
They have argued that opening the lot on the Jewish Day of Rest encourages people to violate the Sabbath, when it is forbidden to ride. City officials countered that closing the lot not only would not prevent tourists from visiting the Old City but also would increase the traffic flow on nearby streets.
The protest on the Sabbath was supposed to be non-violent, according to posters placed in the hareidi religious community.
The demonstration started out peacefully, but police and 800 protesters eventually clashed, and mounted police were deployed to disperse rock-throwers. Five people were arrested, and six police officers were injured.
The protest might have been even more violent if secular activists had not honored a request by the Jerusalem police commissioners not to escalate tension even more by staging a counter-protest.