Israel warns of crackdown over attacks
Police clash with Palestinian protesters in third day of violence at holy site
JERUSALEM— Israel’s prime minister vowed tougher measures to curb Palestinian violence at an emergency meeting Tuesday night after police clashed with Palestinian protesters in a third straight day of unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site during the Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “will use all necessary measures to fight against those who throw stones, firebombs, pipe bombs and fireworks in order to at- tack civilians and police. On the eve of the holiday it was again proven that throwing stones can kill.” He said he will take steps so that attackers will face tougher punishment.
On Monday, an Israeli died after Palestinians pelted his car with rocks. And several Israeli civilians and police were injured in various attacks by Palestinians this week.
Netanyahu said Israel is committed to ensuring the status quo at the holy site but that “rioters won’t be allowed to stop Jewish visitors” to the hilltop.
Police entered the Al-Aqsa mosque compound early in the morning to disperse a group of protesters who had holed up inside the mosque overnight, said police spokeswoman Luba Samri. The protesters threw rocks, fireworks, concrete blocks and a firebomb at the officers, she said, adding that two Palestinians were arrested and five police officers were slightly injured in the violence.
A firebomb thrown at police from within the mosque ignited a rug and wooden planks piled up by the protesters, Samri said. Mosque officials later extinguished the fire and the police managed to restore calm and open the site for visitors, she added.
The director of Al-Aqsa mosque, Omar Kiswani, blamed Israeli police for the tensions and said the gate used for visitors to access the site should be shut. He did not comment on the protesters’ alleged use of firebombs from within the sacred place, the third holiest site in Islam.
Nearby, more Palestinian protest- ers gathered and police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. Later, police said a Palestinian attacked two young Jews in Jerusalem’s Old City, then ran away. He was later arrested, police said.
Late Tuesday, three Palestinians were wounded in clashes between militants from the Islamic Jihad group and Palestinian security forces in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, doctors and security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity under regulations.
Palestinian police raided the camp after militants from Islamic Jihad opened fire during their own press conference, in anger over the incidents at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Palestinian police exchanged fire with the militants. One police- man and two bystanders were wounded in the shooting, according to witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Muslims view these visits as a provocation and accuse Jewish extremists of plotting to take over the site. The compound often becomes the centre of tensions on major Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, which ended Tuesday night.
Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, administers Muslim religious affairs at the site and Jordanian King Abdullah II warned Israel on Monday night to restore calm. “Any more provocations in Jerusalem will affect the relationship between Jordan and Israel and Jordan will have no choice but to take action, unfortunately,” he said.