Anti-racism protests reignite in Jerusalem

Police forces in Jerusalem were bracing Monday for an expected demonstration by Israeli Ethiopians, following a massive anti-racism rally that turned violent in Tel Aviv the day before. 

The latest rally was due to take place at 11 a.m. outside the Prime Minister's Office in the capital's Givat Ram neighborhood.

Police said security forces would permit the protest within the limits of the law and order, stressing that police would intervene using dispersal means if demonstrations spilled over to cause harm to the general public. 

Jerusalem police called on community leader and participants to exercise restraint and adhere to the demands of law enforcement officials. 

A similar demonstration was held Thursday in Jerusalem following the apparently unprovokedbeating of an IDF soldier of Ethiopian descent by two police officers. 

Meanwhile, President Reuven Rivlin said the anti-racism protests held by Israeli Ethiopians has revealed an "open wound" of Israeli society that must be confronted. 

"Yesterday we saw the pain, distress and anger arising from the Israeli Ethiopian community, most of whom were born and raised here," Rivlin said a day after the Tel Aviv rally attended by thousands turned violent, resulting in dozens of injuries and arrests.

"Protest is an essential tool for democracy, but violence is not the path nor the solution," the president stressed. 

Rivlin added that the legitimacy of the issue should not be stymied by the violent outbursts of a handful of people. 

"We are not strangers, people, we are brothers and we must not regress to a place in which we will regret them," he underlined.