Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu calls for calm ‘on all sides’ in Jerusalem amid fresh violence

Fresh clashes broke out late on Saturday between Palestinians and police after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for “calm on all sides” after several nights of unrest in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

But the premier also warned that Israel remains “prepared for all scenarios” after dozens of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, prompting Israeli retaliatory air strikes.

Thirty-six rockets were launched overnight on Friday, the Israeli army said, the most in a single night this year, after Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas voiced support for the east Jerusalem protests.

Netanyahu made the remarks after attending an emergency security meeting with senior officials, including army chief Aviv Kohavi, hours after Israeli warplanes struck Gaza early on Saturday and a second night of clashes between Palestinians and police in Jerusalem.

“First of all we want to ensure that law and order are respected … now we demand compliance with the law and I call for calm on all sides,” Netanyahu said in a statement after the security talks.

The clashes on Saturday evening were less severe than on previous days, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene.

Six Palestinians were injured, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.