Hundredsof haredim were involved in violentriots in Jaffa on Wednesday, in Rehov Louis Pasteur around the site of an archeological dig. Fifteen haredim were arrested.The haredim maintain that the work desecrates the sanctity of ancientbones at the site. Rabbi Tuvia Weiss, the senior rabbinic leader ofthe Eda Haredit Badatz (rabbinical court), was on the scene to encourage the protestersand lead a curse against those working at the site.
Policesaid the demonstration was illegal. Demonstrators attacked police officers with bricks and rocks and also set fire to trash cans. Therewere attempts to knock policemen from their horses and fivepolicemen were reported injured.Two photographers were also injured and an Israel Radio reporter was forced to seek protection inside a police van.The demonstrators broke into the old Jewish cemetery, which is close to the site of the dig.LouisPasteur and YefetStreet were closed to traffic.A couple of days ago, two hundred haredim protested near the site and three demonstrators were arrested. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported that vandalshad ransacked an archaeological excavation of buildings from the late-Ottoman period in Jaffa on Sunday night."Thedamage done to these impressive buildings from the late Ottoman era is irreversible," said Dr. Yoav Arbel, director of the excavation. Thearchaeological dig is taking place before the construction of a high-rise building.Haredim have demonstrated against archaeological digs in the area several times because of their opposition to disturbing Jewish graves on the site.
Hundreds of haredim riot in Jaffa
Rioters say archaeological dig desecrates graves, 5 policemen injured.
