Violence at revered site prompts tighter security
JERUSALEM — Israeli riot police briefly clashed with young Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site early Sunday, raising tensions ahead of a major Jewish holiday.
In light of the violence, police said they would allow only women of all ages and men aged 50 or older to enter the compound for prayers on Monday to prevent further clashes, which tend to mainly involve young men.
No injuries or arrests were reported after the clashes at a hilltop compound in Jerusalem’s Old City that is revered by Jews and Muslims. The site is a frequent flashpoint of violence, and Israel has increased security around the area following several rounds of clashes in recent weeks.
The compound is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, home to the biblical Temples, and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, site of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the spot from where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven.
In Sunday’s incident, police said a small group of masked Palestinian youths threw stones and firecrackers at Israeli police gathered at a main entrance to the compound.
Police released video showing protesters burning fabric and dropping it into an adjacent archaeological park. Police responded with stun grenades and the crowd was dispersed.
Abdelazeem Salhab, an official with the Jordanian Islamic authority that oversees the holy site, said the presence of Israeli police officers at an interior gate of the compound angered the protesters. He warned that police should move further away to avoid “tensions and provocations.”
The attacks occurred hours before the beginning of Sukkot, a weeklong festival that celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the wandering of the ancient Israelites through the desert after the exodus from Egypt.