Hundreds of haredi Orthodox supporters protested the arrest and questioning of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, the son of Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef.

Yosef was arrested on his way home from morning prayers Sunday on suspicion of incitement to racism and violence over his endorsement of the controversial book "Torat Hamelech," or "The King's Torah," which reportedly discusses situations in which it is permissible for Jews to kill non-Jews.

Israeli police briefly detained a rabbi Sunday over his endorsement of a controversial book that justifies the killing of non-Jews in certain circumstances, a police spokesman said Sunday.

News of the brief detention and questioning of rabbi Yaakov Yosef, who is the son of rabbi Ovadia Yosef – a highly popular religious leader who is also the spiritual head of the Shas party, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition – prompted his supporters to take to the streets in parts of Jerusalem, burning tires and blocking the city's light railway.

The protests began outside Yosef's Jerusalem home and continued throughout the city, ending by late afternoon. About 1,000 of his supporters took to the streets, setting rubbish bins on fire and blocking a main Jerusalem road before being dispersed by horse-mounted police and water cannons, an AFP photographer said.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police moved against the demonstrators after they started throwing stones at the officers. Three protesters were arrested for trying to stop the city's light rail from moving. Other protesters attacked two cars driven by Arabs.

Police detained Yosef after he failed to present himself voluntarily for questioning over his endorsement of a book called "The King's Torah."

Rosenfeld said Yosef had been "questioned on suspicion of inciting violence and racism" over his support for the book.

"He was released after approximately an hour. After he was held, his supporters burnt tires near [the main road between East and West Jerusalem] and police also made arrests of three people who were blocking the light railway system," Rosenfeld added.

"The King's Torah" has stirred up controversy since its publication and has drawn sharp criticism from many rabbis who say it contradicts the teachings of Judaism.

Last August, its co-author, settler rabbi Yosef Elitzur was arrested on suspicion of incitement to violence, but he was freed without charge days later after a court found police had not followed proper procedure.

The book reportedly says babies and children of Israel's enemies may be killed in certain circumstances since "it is clear they will grow to harm us," that non-Jews are "uncompassionate by nature" and that attacks on them "curb their evil inclination."

"Anywhere where the influence of gentiles constitutes a threat to the life of Israel, it is permissible to kill them," the rabbis wrote.

The book, published earlier this year, has drawn sharp criticism from many rabbis who say it contradicts the teachings of Judaism.-Editor