Another example of how religion brings people together, acts as a civilizing influence on the young, and teaches us how to separate what’s really important from what isn’t:

—– 40 Arrests In Jerusalem Sabbath Protests (Monsters And Critics/DPA; June 28)

JERUSALEM: At least 40 people were arrested in clashes with police Saturday in Jerusalem during demonstrations by ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups against the opening of a car park on the Sabbath.

One demonstrator was seriously injured when he fell from a fence, Israeli media reported. Four police officers suffered minor injuries.

Police were pelted with bottles, stones, rotten fruit and dirty diapers, and trash containers were set ablaze. Police responded with watercannons in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

Thousands of less religious Israelis protested for the car park to be opened, and police were able to keep the two sides apart through a massive show of force.

The Jerusalem mayor’s decision to open the car park was condemned by ultra-Orthodox as breaking the Sabbath.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy heaves a bottle at Israeli police officers during the second day of demonstrations in the Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. Thousands yesterday protested plans to open a parking lot at City Hall on the Jewish Sabbath; the faithful believe that driving on the Sabbath violates the biblical command to rest on that day. Police said they arrested 24 people, and a 6-year-old boy and four officers were slightly injured. (Muhammed Muheisen photographer/The Associated Press/The Columbus Dispatch; June 28)

—– Death Threats Sent To Jerusalem Mayor Following Parking Lot Riots (Nir Hasson and Jonathan Lis/Haaretz; June 28)

Two e-mail death threats were sent to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday, a day after police clashed with ultra-Orthodox demonstrators protesting the opening of a parking lot in the capital on Shabbat.

Security at Barkat’s office has been increased following the threats, and police have opened an investigation.

Barkat’s bureau issued a statement Sunday vowing that Barkat will not change his decision to open the parking lot.

On Saturday, twenty eight ultra-Orthodox demonstrators were arrested and six people were wounded during riots in Jerusalem against the Sabbath opening of the parking lot.

A 20-year-old Haredi man sustained serious head wounds during the turmoil; Magen David Adom emergency services said the man, suffering from convulsions, was taken to Hadassah Ein Karem for medical treatment.

Police said they had no further details about the circumstances in which the man was wounded.

Four police officers were also lightly hurt during the protests, as was a six-year-old boy, according to the Associated Press.

Near the site of the demonstration, thousands of secular Israelis held a counter-protest in support of Barkat’s decision to open the Carta parking lot.

Despite the ultra-Orthodox protesters’ attempts to block the parking lot entrance in the afternoon, hundreds of cars were able to park there successfully on Saturday.

The Mayor’s bureau said later Saturday that the lot solved the problems of parking and public safety in Jerusalem’s Old City.

“The mayor is obligated to maintain the public’s safety and this concern is what guides him,” said a Barkat spokesperson. “The police must now be concerned with public order.”

In the wake of the protests, Barkat’s security detail has been reinforced and a security guard has been placed outside of his home.

On Friday, ultra-Orthodox Jerusalemites staged a mass rally to protest the parking lot’s opening.

Droves of Haredim flooded Bar Ilan Street, a major throughway in the heart of an ultra-Orthodox district, as well as other sites in the city.

Violent riots also erupted three weeks ago, after the municipality passed a resolution to open the Safra parking lot in the city center on the Sabbath. Hoping to appease the protesters, Barkat decided to open the nearby Carta lot instead, but the controversy has not subsided.

Numerous Haredi leaders from various factions, including Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Shalom Elyashiv, a leader of the Lithuanian Haredi community, joined the call to hold the mass prayer session after the protest was initially led by Eda Haredit, an extremist ultra-Orthodox group.

Protesters attacked journalists who were covering the events, including Channel 2 reporter Dafna Liel who had to cut short a live report.