Clashes between Haredi protesters and police in Jerusalem intensified Sunday after a video clip showed a police officer w throwing a bucket at a young boy. In a separate incident, a group of Haredi youths reportedly attacked a journalist.
Yossi Eli, a reporter for Channel 13 News, described the incident on Twitter.
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"For the first time I felt unsafe on the streets of Jerusalem," Eli wrote. "Outside of Mea She'arim [neighborhood], close to Shabbat Square, an angry mob comes at you and you run for your life."
Eli posted a video to Twitter in which Haredi youths are seen hitting and kicking the vehicle Eli and his team were riding in.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Haredi Jews congregated Sunday to celebrate the first day of the Sukkot festival, despite prohibitions on public gatherings.
Clashes erupted in Betar Illit, Modi'in, and Jerusalem when Israel Police forces were deployed to enforce public health regulations and break up prayers held in conditions that violated those regulations.
In some neighborhoods, residents greeted the police officers with cries of "Dogs!" and "Nazis!" In many locations, worshippers evacuated from synagogues refused to leave. Some threw rocks at the police.
In one incident, a police officer reportedly ran after a young boy and hurled an empty bucket at his head.
The Israel Police said in response: "While a gathering of several dozen was being broken up in Betar Illit, rocks and other objects were thrown at police officers. One suspect who was seen throwing a cement block at a police car was arrested.
"However, we see the conduct of the officer [who allegedly threw the bucket] as violating the values of the organization. Therefore, the district commander has issued orders for footage of the incident to be delivered to the Justice Ministry's Internal Investigations Department for review," the police said.
Parts of article were first published by i24NEWS.
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