Thousands march in Jerusalem rally

The largest Israeli police contingent ever watched over the demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah as protesters waved red flags bearing the inscription “Shalom,” or peace in Hebrew, during the demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah on Saturday

A large Israeli police contingent watched over the demonstration, the largest of its kind for several decades against Jewish settlements in Jerusalem

The demonstration came amid tensions in the Old City after days of clashes between Israeli riot police and Palestinian protesters in and around the Al-Aqsa mosque and several Arab neighbourhoods of Jerusalem

Several Palestinian families of Sheikh Jarrah have been expelled in recent months in favour of Israeli settlers on the grounds their houses belonged to Jews before the creation of Israel in 1948

The evictions led to demonstrations that were put down by the police who arrested Israeli peace activists and pro-Palestinian foreigners

Israel annexed east Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war and built new quarters to house more than 200,000 Israelis

The occupation has never been recognised by the international community. Palestinians denounce settlements in east Jerusalem, which they want to make the capital of their future state