Weekly roundup of world briefs

Hundreds of Palestinians protest barriers in Jerusalem during Ramadan

By Ben Sales

(JTA) — Hundreds of Palestinians have been protesting barriers placed in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The protests have centered around the Damascus Gate, a landmark and meeting point in the eastern section of the city. Palestinians typically sit on and around the steps leading to the gate following nighttime prayers during Ramadan, a month of daylong fasts that end at sunset.

This year, police placed barriers on the steps of the gate, effectively preventing people from gat...