Police clash with Arab protesters in Jerusalem as Jewish extremist group rallies

Violence is reported in Jerusalem near the Old City and Damascus Gate, as Arab protesters clash with police and hundreds of activists from a Jewish extremist group converge on the scene as well.

A police officer is injured in the face, after reportedly being hit by a rock thrown by an Arab rioter.

Hundreds of police are deployed at the scene. Police use flashbangs and water cannons to break up protests, with the sounds from the blasts rolling across the center of the capital.

עימותים ועצורים בירושלים, שוטר נפגע מאבן ליד שער שכםhttps://t.co/GbtdIv3Czt @GiladCohenJR pic.twitter.com/A7PtWjrbAZ

— ynet עדכוני (@ynetalerts) April 22, 2021

Jerusalem has seen several days of violence after a number of assaults on Jews that were filmed and later uploaded to the TikTok video-sharing app, including one of an East Jerusalem teenager slapping two ultra-Orthodox boys on the light rail. Along with the recent violence in Jerusalem toward Jews, there have also been attacks on Arabs, with chants of “death to Arabs” heard during the assaults.

Jewish extremist group Lehava called for a protest Thursday night in a show of “national honor.”