The haredim were protesting the removal of graves from a site designated for Barzilai Hospital's new emergency wing, as well as the arrest of a man suspected of snatching the body of a woman in order to prevent an autopsy. Police respond with water cannons.
Jerusalem: Haredim riot, block main
Hundreds employ arson to protest grave removal, arrest of man suspected of snatching body
Shmulik Grossman • Ynet
Some 200 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators made their way to Sabbath Square in Jerusalem Monday, torching trash cans and blocking the main road into the city.
Police reported that they were also throwing stones at officers who deployed in the area in preparation for violent riots.
The haredim were protesting the removal of graves from a site designated for Barzilai Hospital's new emergency wing, as well as the arrest of a man suspected of snatching the body of a woman in order to prevent an autopsy.
The protesters also torched the field behind a local yeshiva. Firefighters told Ynet the blaze was quickly put out, and that the haredim were leaving the area. "We will keep fighting to prevent destruction," one firefighter said.
On Sunday Jerusalem Municipality announced that it was halting its operations in several ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in the city following violence directed at municipal workers.
The municipality stated that several employees were beaten during protests in the capital on Sunday, part of a long line of violent attacks against municipal workers and facilities by haredi protesters.