Jaffa (Israel): At least 15 people were
wounded as Israeli police clashed on Wednesday with hundreds of
ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting construction at a site they say
contains Jewish graves.
Baton-wielding police, many on horseback, charged the
protesters to disperse them, wounding at least 10
demonstrators, according to an AFP photographer.
The protesters hurled bottles and stones at police,
lightly wounding five officers, said police spokesman Micky
Rosenfeld. He said he had no details on how many protesters
were wounded.
"Other units have been called in to help disperse the
protesters," said Rosenfeld.
Construction workers at the site in Jaffa, on the
southern edge of Tel Aviv, had found several old graves when
they were digging the foundations of a building.
Building on sites believed to contain Jewish graves
frequently provokes fury among the ultra-Orthodox community
for whom the disturbance of Jewish remains is forbidden under
religious law.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 18:55