14 arrested outside US embassy in Jerusalem during official opening

The 14 activists arrested during the scuffles “did not keep to the terms that the protesters had agreed upon with police,” Israel Police stated.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Several Arab Members of Knesset (MKs) joined 200 protesters in a demonstration that turned violent outside the festive opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem.

Videos on social media showed police shoving protestors, including Arab Joint List MK Jamal Zahalka, who landed on the ground. Other Joint List MKs can be seen arguing with police, and people could be heard shouting “Free, free Palestine.”

The demonstration had received approval well in advance, but there were conditions attached, including the restriction of demonstrators to a specific location, police said.

The 14 activists arrested during the scuffles “did not keep to the terms that the protesters had agreed upon with police,” as noted by the statement put out by the Israel Police. This included chanting “Allahu akhbar,” “With our blood and tears we will redeem you, Palestine,” and waving Palestinian flags, all of which the police considered incitement. The protesters were detained and the flags confiscated.

The demonstration was allowed to continue following the arrests.

According to Ha’aretz, about a dozen members of a fringe ultra-orthodox anti-Israeli group also joined the protest. They held signs that read “Jews worldwide condemn Israeli bloody brutality” and “Authentic Jewry never recognized the State of Israel.”

Hadashot TV reported that the Palestinian Authority was encouraging the protesters, showing a live feed of the violent demonstrations at the Israel-Gaza border happening simultaneously.

The jubilant atmosphere inside the American compound was not disturbed by the protests.

Arab Joint ListPalestinian incitementZahalka