Ultra-Orthodox and pro-settlement demos snarl Jerusalem traffic

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators turned out Thursday in Jerusalem and other parts of the country to protest the cutoff of state funds to yeshiva seminaries over the military enlistment issue. In downtown Jerusalem and Meah Shearim, police used water cannon and made arrests to clear the roads and the main highway link to the capital. Ultra-religious rallies also blocked the Geha route to Tel Aviv and central Ashdod. Pro-settlement protesters demonstrated briefly on the Begin Highway leading out of the capital.