Amongst the protestors on Friday were leftist leaders such as Hadash chairman MK Mohammed Barakeh, former Meretz chairman Yossi Sarid and former MK Avraham Burg.

Before the protest began, police notified demonstrators that the protest was considered illegal. They began attempting to scatter the activists while arresting some of them.

Police have arrested 15 left-wing activists thus far.

During the protest, a confrontation began between Palestinians and Jewish settlers in the neighborhood. One Palestinian was injured after being hit in the head with a stone. He was taken for medical treatment by a Palestinian ambulance.

Hadash MK Barakeh addressed the crowd saying, "The issue isn't about a house here and a neighborhood there, but about the intention to empty Jerusalem from its Arab citizens.

"This is a crime against the Arab population and a crime against the peace process," Barakeh said.

Yariv Oppenheimer, General Director of the left wing group Shalom Achshav (Peace Now), who regularly participates in the weekly protest, said in his opinion, "today's protest speaks to more people than it did in the past. Today you feel like the struggle has become more fundamental not only regarding Sheikh Jarrah but regarding the overall settlement activity in East Jerusalem."

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