Clashes rock Al-Aqsa mosque for 2nd day
AFP
Muslims and Israeli police clashed at Jerusalems flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound for a second straight day Monday as Jews celebrated their new year and protesters vowed to protect Islams third-holiest site, reports AFP, from Jerusalem.
As they had the day before, Israeli security forces entered the compound early on Monday to prevent Muslim youths from harassing visiting Jews, police said. Clashes then broke out on the hilltop complex, with booms heard from outside its gates. Muslims have barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa amid protests over access to the site, venerated by Jews as the Temple Mount.
As the police entered the compound, masked youths fled inside the mosque and threw stones at the force, a police statement said.
Police said that five protesters were arrested in the compound and visits went ahead as planned.
Another four were arrested in skirmishes between security forces and protesters in the surrounding alleys of Jerusalems Old City.
Police fired stun grenades while hitting and kicking demonstrators and journalists, including from AFP, as they sought to push back crowds.
Muslim protesters fear Israel will seek to change rules governing the site, with far-right Jewish groups pushing for more access to the compound and even efforts by fringe organisations to erect a new temple.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the status quo will be preserved at the sensitive site, but suspicions remain among Palestinians, a sign of the deep mistrust between the two sides.
Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound, but Jews must not pray or display national symbols for fear of triggering tensions with Muslim worshippers.
We are worried about Al-Aqsa because Israel wants to empty it and then all Jerusalem of the Muslims, Sanaa Rajabi, among dozens of women protesting outside the gates of the Al-Aqsa compound, told AFP.
This is the first step to divide Al-Aqsa. They do it step-by-step so that Muslims and Arabs remain silent, but this is the ultimate plan.
An AFP journalist outside the gate saw a Jewish visitor leaving the compound scuffle with Muslims outside. Non-Muslim visits to the site increase during Jewish holidays, with some 650 visitors on Sunday, according to police. Another 500 visited on Monday during the 7:30 am to 11:00 am visiting hours, police said.
The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, began on Sunday evening and ends on Tuesday evening.
Far-right Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel was among Jewish activists who visited on Sunday, Israeli media reported.
In comments quoted by The Jerusalem Post newspaper in 2013, Ariel said the complex must be open for prayer at every hour to every Jew.
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week outlawed two Muslim groups that confront Jewish visitors to the compound, further fuelling tensions.
His office said the Murabitat and Murabitun groups were a main factor in creating the tension and violence at the compound.
In clashes on Sunday, Muslim witnesses said police entered the mosque and caused damage. Police said only that they closed its doors to lock in rioters throwing stones, fireworks and other objects.
Israeli security forces have used the same tactic in the past to restore calm and which has seen them briefly enter the mosque.
