HUNDREDS OF CHRISTIANS took to the street on 6 May to protest against the local cable TV company's screening of Martin Scorcese's controversial film, "The Last Temptation of Christ".
Demonstrators, mostly men, made their way through the streets with sticks, metal rods and chains, and a big wooden cross. They were also said to have overturned garbage cans, damaged cars, thrown rocks at neighbouring homes and shouted slogans
against the cable company and Jews.
The demonstration started out peacefully but once it disintegrated into violence police dispersed the protesters with tear gas. Eleven people were arrested, and one police officer was hit on the head with a hammer.
The protest was sparked by the decision of the High Court of Justice in Tel Aviv against the appeal by eight Christian groups to ban the film.