Police contained the protest of extremists from 'Eda' - until they started vandalism

February 22, 2023   

Hundreds of 'Eda' members gathered this evening (Tuesday) in Jerusalem's Shabbat Square to protest the arrest of Yehoshua Dadon, a resident of Beit Shemesh who was arrested more than two months ago and charged with setting fire to the 'Phone Kosher' cell phone store in the Geula neighborhood for ideological reasons. At the end of the rally, the extremist demonstrators headed towards the police station in the Russian Compound, where clashes developed with police forces. From there, the demonstrators went to block central roads in the city - and blocked the light rail. For a long time, the police contained the behavior of the extremist protesters, but later - police forces operated in the city center, after the protest turned into a violent disturbance. Some of the participants in the demonstration began acts of vandalism and stone-throwing, which caused damage to the light rail windshield in the Bar Lev area of ​​Jerusalem. Earlier, they damaged a vehicle and a gate in the Russian Compound area. After a police officer ordered the rioters to disperse, they continued to disrupt the order and police forces used force to repel the rioters. Police forces remained in the area to maintain order. "The Israel Police will continue to allow freedom of protest within the limits of the law, but will not allow the violation of public order, vandalism and acts of violence contrary to the law," the police statement said. [Gallery]