Palestinians lob rocks at Israeli police, burn tires in disputed east Jerusalem

Palestinian unrest erupts in east Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — Masked Palestinians have hurled rocks at Israeli police and burned tires in disputed east Jerusalem.

Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby says police fired stun grenades to disperse dozens of protesters at one site. He said village elders helped end protests at another site.

No injuries were reported.

Tensions are high in east Jerusalem, fueled in part by a feud between Israel and Washington over continued Israeli construction in the disputed sector of the holy city.

Police presence is high after Hamas militants called for a “day of rage” against Israel following its rededication of a synagogue in east Jerusalem.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s foreign minister says it’s “unreasonable” for the international community to expect Israel to freeze construction in east Jerusalem.

Israeli building there has caused the most serious rift with the U.S. in decades.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Tuesday that demands to halt the construction “are unreasonable as far as we are concerned.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday defended four decades of construction for Israelis in east Jerusalem. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.

The feud erupted last week after Israel approved the construction of 1,600 new apartments in east Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit. The U.S. says the move was “insulting.”