Thousands of haredim took to the streets of Jerusalem on Saturday evening, in violent protests against the Karta parking lot in the capital opening on Shabbat to accommodate Old City tourists.

According to initial reports, rocks were thrown and policemen trying to disperse crowds were pushed and shoved.

The protesters, demonstrating in the main haredi neighborhood of Jerusalem, Mea She'arim, claim to be pained by the desecration of Shabbat. Many of the ultra-orthodox Jews were apparently chanting, "Shabbat desecrators will die."

Eyewitnesses said that protesters had formed a human chain to prevent police from dispersing crowds, while police set up road blocks around the area.

In similar protests last weekend, 57 haredim were arrested for disturbing the peace, according to Jerusalem Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby. The detainees were taken to the city's Russian Compound jail, where they were held overnight until their remand hearing the following day.

Etgar Lefkovits contributed to this report