Police Clash With Protesters in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim Over Palestinian Flags

Police forces, reinforced by riot police, entered the Haredi neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem overnight between Sunday and Monday to remove Palestinian flags that had been hung and spray-painted on streets by extremists. Upon the security forces' entry into the neighborhood, a volatile situation erupted. Dozens of residents gathered around the officers, shouting protests. During the confrontation, demonstrators began throwing stones and various objects at the police. In response to the escalating riots and the danger to officers' lives, the forces deployed crowd dispersal methods, including stun grenades, to clear intersections and regain control of the streets. The incident lasted for an extended period until police managed to disperse the crowd and restore order.

This event in Mea Shearim follows a series of recent confrontations in the neighborhood. Two weeks prior, an officer from the Haredi company of the Border Police was attacked by hundreds of suspects in Modi'in Illit during a family visit in the Chafetz Chaim neighborhood. Last week, a large procession took place in Jerusalem honoring Torah prisoners, which included the completion of Talmudic tractates studied in military prison and the awarding of special financial grants to detainees. This procession led to the closure of major city streets and rerouting of public transportation.