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Demonstrations in Jerusalem Met With Unrestrained Israeli Military Brutality
March 16, 2010

Jerusalem and surrounding region today witnessed protests regarding the consecration of the ruins of a synagogue in the Old City yesterday, in the Israeli-occupied eastern half of the city. Today's demonstrations were an additional response to an Israeli right wing group's attempts to enter the al-Haram al-Sharif complex in order to lay the foundation stone to what they have dubbed the "third temple" and the continuing Old City closure and denial of entry by Israeli police to Palestinians hoping to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Strong clashes occured throughout most suburbs of East Jerusalem, with arrests and injuries occuring in Isawiya, Ras al-Amud, Shu'fat and Wadi Joz. Eyewitnesses report members of undercover police units collaborating with Israeli settlers in the area of Ras al-Amud, employing armoured settler vehicles to carry out their operations against demonstrators.

Protesters in Silwan shut down the main street of Ain Al-Ioza and the street leading to settlement building of "Beit Yonatan". Clashes took place between Palestinian protesters and police forces, but no injuries or arrests. A large force of Israeli soldiers were reported entering the neighborhood of Wadi Hilwah.