Israeli-Palestinian clashes after settlers march in East Jerusalem

'We're the bosses'

On a radio interview the night before the protests, the extreme right leader Itamar Ben Gvir said that Mitchell’s visit helped to fuel their efforts and inspired them to fight harder for their cause, reports Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.

As the protesters walked from the Western Wall in the to the center of Silwan, Mr. Ben Gvir said, “We've proven to Netanyahu, Obama, and Mitchell that we're the bosses in Jerusalem.”

In Silwan, the settlers were met by both local residents and leftist Israelis who opposed their march.

Clashes quickly erupted between the two opposing groups, but the conservative Jerusalem Post reports that police were able to restore calm before anyone was injured or other damaged was caused.

"We hope the Kahanist march in Silwan will raise awareness to the distress of Palestinian residents of the neighborhood, who are subjected to incessant violence at the hands of the settlers in the neighborhood and abused by the authorities," the [leftist Israeli] demonstrators said. They added that they were protesting "in order to stand with the residents throughout the provocation and ensure that police are defending the Palestinian residents from the Kahanist bullies."

Meanwhile, Ma’an, a Palestinian news service, reports that at least five Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets fired at them by the police.

Palestinian demonstrators began throwing stones at Israeli police, who then deployed anti-riot forces to break up the group.

Related:

• Agreement on Jerusalem construction is key to resuming peace talks
• Netanyahu insists on East Jerusalem building, hope fades for two-state solution
• Israel rejects Obama's call for building halt in East Jerusalem

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