JERUSALEM (JTA) — Violence broke out in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah during a visit by right-wing lawmakers.
Stones were thrown at Ya’akov Katz and Uri Ariel of the National Union Party as they visited the area Sunday afternoon, as well as at the home of one of the Palestinian families evicted last week, in which Jews now live, according to reports.
The lawmakers were visiting the Jewish families who moved into the two Jewish-owned homes in the neighborhood.
Also Sunday, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry, criticized the eviction of the two Arab families during a meeting with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who refused to discuss the issue.
Ayalon also said that Israel would loosen the blockade of Gaza as soon as captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released.
