US Jerusalem move sparks protests
JERUSALEM — Palestinian protesters in the West Bank clashed with Israeli soldiers on Friday, after US President Donald Trump announced his country now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Clashes erupted after Palestinians poured out of mosques after midday prayers, the highlight of the Muslim religious week.
In several cities and town, angry protesters hurled stones at Israeli troops who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Smoke rose over Bethlehem.
On Thursday, clashes erupted on the southern border with the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian residents who approached the fence with Israel were met with riot squads.
Israeli media reported dozens of Palestinians injured. Israeli Channel 10 news said Thursday was just a “preview” for Friday’s “big test”.
Israeli police have deployed reinforcements in and around Jerusalem’s Old City ahead of Friday prayers, though Israel hasn’t imposed age restrictions on Muslim worshippers to access Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque, the city’s most sacred Islamic site.
The Israeli military announced it would be sending a number of battalions to the West Bank in order to increase the army presence in the area as part of “the readiness to deal with possible developments”.
Jerusalem’s Old City, home to holy sites of Jews, Muslims and Christians, is expected to be the focal point of demonstrations.
Around 40 percent of the city’s population are Palestinian residents without rights under Israeli law.
Raghad, a 21-year-old Palestinian woman who was one of the leaders in the protest in front of the Damascus Gate of the Old City, said Jerusalem belongs to Palestine and Palestinians would never accept the US recognition.
Nardeen Mohammad, another young Palestinian activist who took part in the protests, also expressed his fury at Trump’s declaration.
“This is considered a defiance of all international laws that recognize Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories are under occupation. Making changes to it is considered a war crime,” he said.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump, saying “it’s about time” the US embassy and others move to Jerusalem. full
Israel is “already in contacts with other countries that will declare similar recognition,” he added.
After his statement on Wednesday, Trump signed a waiver deferring the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem for another six months.
The actual relocation expected to take years.
In response to Trump’s statement, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza, called for a renewed armed uprising against Israel.
“Tomorrow will be a day of public anger and the launching of an uprising under the name of Intifada of Jerusalem Freedom,” said Haniyeh.
Hamas is a militant organization that has repeatedly clashed with Israeli forces over the years. is