Jerusalem

Jerusalem Brawl spotlights Arab-Jewish tensions

The east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah was the scene of renewed violence Tuesday afternoon when a fight broke out between local Arab residents and a group of Jews who had moved into a home on the neighborhood's Othman Bin Afan Street earlier in the morning.

Several protesters gathered at the home just before 10 a.m. as the Jews were entering the property. But the violence broke out some two hours later when a verbal spat between the two sides deteriorated into a full-blown brawl.

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Israel warns EU over east Jerusalem dispute

JERUSALEM — Israel sternly warned the European Union on Tuesday against recognizing east Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, saying such a move would damage Europe's credibility as a Mideast mediator.

The warning came as Jewish settlers in the West Bank confronted government inspectors sent to enforce a ban on new construction on territory Palestinians claim for a future state. No major violence was reported, but the images could boost the efforts of conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to portray himself as amenable to international demands for curtailing settlement construction.

Sweden, the current EU president, is floating an initiative to recognize east Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported Tuesday that Sweden will seek approval at an EU meeting in Brussels next week.

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Life in Jerusalem's city of three faiths

Jerusalem's Old City is a district containing a number of holy sites venerated by Muslims, Christians and Jews. The BBC's Heather Sharp, who moved into a home within its walls last year, reports on daily life in a dense tangle of narrow, winding alleyways.

Our first night was a disaster.

We had finally got the keys to our new home. A wiry teenager had wheeled our bed on a handcart through the narrow, carless streets.

But as we turned out the light, Arabic pop music, cheers and whistles blasted in through the window of our new flat as neighbours celebrated a wedding.

And after just a few hours sleep we were jolted awake by the sound of a massive, room-shaking bang.

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