Hundreds of Orthodox Jews demonstrated until late last night in the religious quarters of Jerusalem, clashing with police for the first time in the daily demonstrations which reached a new peak this week. Ten of the demonstrators were detained. The demonstrations are against the building of a new municipal stadium close to the religious neighborhoods in north Jerusalem and the continued usage on Saturdays of a new road nearby.
The demonstrations began in the early afternoon; Several hundred demonstrators gathered at an intersection, wearing sacks as a sign of mourning and blocking traffic. Police rushed to the area, detaining four of the demonstrators. But the demonstrations resumed later in the evening with a larger force. Mounted police were brought in and they dispersed the demonstrators by force. Police remained in the area throughout the night to maintain order.
It was the first time in five days that the police used force. A police spokesman said the police would not allow illegal demonstrations and it would do its utmost to allow. the daily routine to continue unimpeded in this part of the city. There is growing tension here in anticipation of possible clashes Saturday between the Orthodox residents and non-Orthodox drivers on the Ramot Road which connects the Ramot neighborhood to central Jerusalem.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
