More than 100 arrested in riots in Jerusalem 0:38
(CNN) -
Clashes between East Jerusalem Palestinians and Israeli Police around the Old City's Damascus Gate erupted in a night of rioting that earlier saw Jewish extremists marching down another city street shouting 'Death to the Arabs".
The violence marks a fever pitch in a new phase of complex and heightened tensions in the city that began a week and a half ago at the beginning of Ramadan, and prompted an unusual statement Friday morning from the US embassy in Jerusalem in the calling for "all responsible voices [to] promote an end to incitement."
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered around the Damascus Gate on Thursday night to protest the closure of the square in front of the gate, a popular spot among young Palestinians, especially during Ramadan.
Glass bottles and stones were thrown at the police, who used stun grenades, rubber bullets and water cannons that sprayed a foul-smelling liquid known as "skunk water" in an effort to disperse the crowd.
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At one point, a group of youths managed to knock down a pole with a top-mounted security camera and set it on fire, temporarily creating a barricade.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said 105 Palestinians were injured, of whom 22 required hospital treatment.
Nearby, the police used their own barricades to prevent a march of hundreds of supporters of the Lehava Jewish extremist movement from reaching the same area.
Videos posted on social media show hundreds of people marching down one of Jerusalem's main thoroughfares, Jaffa Street, in the direction of the Damascus Gate, repeatedly chanting "Death to the Arabs."
Israeli media reports that Lehava supporters threw stones at the police, and videos on social media show the authorities using water cannons to disperse them.
Lehava has been encouraged by the recent election in the Israeli Parliament of several extremist racist politicians, all of whom have been openly courted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his current attempts to form a new government.
Tensions have been further compounded by a series of videos posted to TikTok in the past two weeks that apparently show acts of aggression, including one that allegedly shows a young Palestinian slapping two religious Jews who were riding the train service of the town.
The violence continued well into Friday morning, with incidents recorded across the city, including one videotaped in which Palestinian youths are apparently seen repeatedly kicking a Jewish man in East Jerusalem while he is in the city. the ground trying to protect my head.
Another video appears to show religious Jewish youths attacking the home of an Arab family by throwing sticks and other objects into the place while a baby is heard screaming.
Police say 20 of their officers were injured, three of whom were taken to hospital.
There were 44 arrests, according to the Police.
The US embassy issued a statement on Friday morning, in English, Hebrew and Arabic, saying: “We are deeply concerned about the incidents of violence in Jerusalem in recent days.
We hope that all responsible voices will promote an end to incitement, a return to calm, and respect for the safety and dignity of all in Jerusalem.
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