Palestinians, Settlers Clash In Tense Jerusalem Neighbourhood

Stones, chairs, fireworks hurled at each other overnight in a tense Sheikh Jarrah where Israeli settler groups are trying to evict several Palestinian families

JERUSALEM

Palestinians and Jewish settlers hurled stones, chairs and fireworks at each other overnight in a tense Jerusalem neighbourhood where settler groups are trying to evict several Palestinian families, officials said on Tuesday.

The threatened evictions fuelled protests and clashes in the runup to last month’s 11day Gaza war and pose a test for Israel’s new governing coalition, which includes three pro-settler parties but is hoping to sideline the Palestinian issue to avoid internal divisions.

Israeli police and border officials said they arrested four suspects in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. It was unclear who started the brawl. One woman was reportedly injured when she was hit in the back by a stone, police said.