Palestinians torch cars in Silwan

Palestinians set cars on fire and threw stones at Israeli police and firemen in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

The violence, which began early Thursday morning, came after Jewish Israelis tried to reach a spring with religious significance by crossing through a mosque courtyard, local Palestinian residents told reporters. Jewish sources say no one entered the mosque and that the violence started on Wednesday night, Haaretz reported.

Four cars and two motorcycles were burned, as well as trees, dumpsters and a guard post.

The city of Jerusalem recently announced plans to raze 22 illegal Palestinian homes in Silwan’s al-Bustan neighborhood to make way for the construction of an archeological park, while allowing 66 other illegal homes to obtain retroactive building permits, a plan to which the Palestinians object.