Archive for June 30th, 2009
Riots in Jerusalem on Saturday! No, not between Jews and Arabs, but only amongst Jews. And the reason for them was the opening of the parking lot belonging to a shopping center on the Sabbath, only the parking space, none of the shops were opened. The mayor of Jerusalem tried to solve the Saturday parking problem of the city, when many visitors arrive without finding parking space for their cars, often leaving them in forbidden and/or dangerous places like traffic islands, pavements etc. where they cause danger and even prevent access to houses, even preventing emergency vehicles from passing.
But the ultra-religious Jews objected to this, although the shopping mall was not in their residential area and began violent demonstrations, throwing stones and other objects. Protesters tried to forcibly block cars from entering the parking lot, but were dispersed by police. Hundreds of others prayed near the lot. About 80 people were wounded, some seriously, also 6 policemen and 40 protesters were arrested. In some cases the police dispersed the rioters with water cannons. The Jerusalem Municipality said that the opening of the lot solved the parking problem in the city on the Sabbath. “The mayor is obligated to maintain the public’s safety and this concern is what guides him,” the mayor’s office said.”The police must now be concerned with public order”. But I wonder what will happen there next Saturday.
Posted in Observations