JERUSALEM, May 17 (UPI) -- Ultra-orthodox Haredi leaders in Jerusalem say they will continue to fight against the government's removal of graves to build an emergency room in Ashkelon.
"Only risking lives will enable us to stop the desecration," said Rabbi David Shmidel, head of Atra Kadisha, a group dedicated to preserving Jewish places of burial.
At least 30 people were arrested Sunday when an estimated 700 Haredi rioted in Jerusalem, where municipal services were cut off to quell the violent protests, Haaretz reported Monday.
"They are arresting righteous Yeshiva students for protesting the desecration of graves," said Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss, a Haredi leader. "It is they (the police) who should be arrested."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday the decision to relocate the ancient graves to build a bombproof emergency room at Barzilai Medical Center is in the public's best interest, Ynetnews.com reported Monday.
