Palestinians stone Israeli car, which crashes, as Jerusalem seethes
(Reuters) - On a busy street outside Jerusalem's walled Old City on Monday, a group of Palestinians pelted an Israeli car with rocks in a moment of violence captured on CCTV video.
When it was over, the driver stood, an improvised bandage on his head and blood on his shirt, next to his wrecked car, guarded by a policeman with his pistol drawn. One of the attackers, who was hit by the vehicle, had already limped away.
Palestinians accused the motorist of a deliberate ramming. Police say the driver lost control of the car.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said more than 275 Palestinians were injured in the general violence. Police said 12 officers were hurt.
The CCTV footage, which police released on Twitter, began with Palestinians milling around slow-moving traffic, apparently trying to spot Israeli drivers, and then converging on a white car.
One of the Palestinians briefly opened a door of the vehicle as it backed away, rocks pelting its bonnet.
Several Palestinians rushed up to lob rocks at the driver and a passenger, who could be seen gesticulating through the window. The stone-thrower struck by the vehicle quickly got to his feet and limped off, helped by other Palestinians.
Twenty-five seconds after the collision, an Israeli police officer arrived and fired his pistol in the air to disperse the crowd.
"Move back! Move back!" the policeman ordered, pointing his gun, while also appearing to warn the driver, who spat at the Palestinians, to stay next to the wrecked car.
Interviewed on Israel's N12 news site, the driver said: "We tried to flee and our car ended up almost overturning."
Police said he and a passenger were lightly hurt in the incident.