Clashes erupt again near flashpoint Jerusalem holy site

Israeli police on Sunday entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis to safe the way in which for Jewish guests to the flashpoint holy web site, fueling clashes that left 17 Palestinians wounded, in keeping with Palestinian medical employees.

The unrest occurred simply two days after clashes with Palestinians on the similar web site. Violence in Jerusalem between Israeli safety forces and Palestinian demonstrators a yr in the past escalated into an 11-day Gaza warfare.

The hilltop compound housing the mosque is the third-holiest web site in Islam, whereas it’s the holiest place for Jews, who discuss with it because the Temple Mount. The competing claims to the positioning have sparked quite a few rounds of violence.

This yr the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Christian holy week culminating in Easter Sunday and the week-long Jewish Passover are all occurring on the similar time, with tens of 1000’s of tourists flocking to town after coronavirus restrictions have been principally lifted.

Israeli police accused Palestinians of “defiling and desecrating” a holy web site, whereas Palestinian officers accused Israel of attempting to divide the delicate holy web site. “What occurred in Al-Aqsa Mosque is a harmful escalation, the repercussions of that are to be borne by the Israeli authorities alone,” mentioned Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

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Police mentioned they entered the compound to facilitate the routine go to of Jews to the holy web site. They mentioned Palestinians had stockpiled stones and arrange boundaries in anticipation of violence.

Beginner movies circulating on social media appeared to point out law enforcement officials utilizing batons to subdue arrested Palestinians and clear folks from the esplanade, drawing accusations they had been utilizing extreme pressure. In a single video, an officer clubbed an apparently unarmed man as he stood subsequent to a toddler.

Omer Barlev, the Israeli minister in command of the police, mentioned it was necessary to make sure freedom of worship “however we is not going to compromise when violence and terror happen.”

The police cleared Palestinians out of the sprawling esplanade exterior the mosque itself early Sunday, whereas dozens of Palestinians remained contained in the constructing chanting “God is Best.” Video launched by police confirmed small teams of youths throwing stones, in addition to fireworks being fired from contained in the mosque.

Palestinians reported transient clashes with Israeli police simply exterior the mosque compound, whereas police mentioned Palestinians had thrown stones at buses exterior the Previous Metropolis. Paramedics mentioned 5 folks driving in buses acquired therapy for minor accidents within the assaults.

Police launched a video displaying a crowd of youths pelting a passing bus with stones simply exterior the Previous Metropolis. One other video from the police, taken inside one of many buses, confirmed Jewish households sitting on the ground of the car because it continued on its means.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ordered extra safety on public buses going to the Previous Metropolis after a scenario evaluation with high protection officers.

“We’re working to calm issues down on the one hand and are taking vigorous motion towards violent people on the opposite,” he mentioned.

The Palestinian Purple Crescent medical service mentioned 17 Palestinians had been wounded, together with 5 individuals who had been hospitalized. Israeli police reported 9 arrests. By noon, witnesses mentioned police had moved out of the compound.

Jordan, which serves as custodian of the holy web site, issued an announcement condemning Israel’s actions, saying they undermine “all efforts made to keep up the great calm and stop the escalation of violence that threatens safety and peace.”

Underneath longtime understandings, Jews are allowed to go to the Temple Mount however are barred from praying there. For many years, Jews averted worship there for non secular causes.

Israeli authorities say they’re dedicated to sustaining the established order, however in recent times massive teams of nationalist and non secular Jews have recurrently visited the positioning with police escorts, one thing the Palestinians view as a provocation. The variety of guests typically rises throughout non secular holidays. Palestinian officers mentioned practically 550 Jewish guests entered the compound, in comparison with just some dozen on most days.

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Such practices have fueled issues amongst Palestinians that Israel is plotting to take over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound or partition it. Israel strongly denies such claims, saying it’s dedicated to defending freedom of worship for all.

Clashes erupted on the web site earlier than daybreak on Friday after police mentioned Palestinians had hurled stones towards the Western Wall, an adjoining Jewish holy web site. Police entered in pressure and clashed with dozens of Palestinians shortly after daybreak prayers.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, which incorporates the Previous Metropolis, together with the West Financial institution and Gaza within the 1967 warfare. The Palestinians desire a future state in all three territories. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a transfer not acknowledged internationally and is constructing and increasing settlements within the occupied West Financial institution. Hamas controls Gaza, which has been below an Israeli and Egyptian blockade for the reason that Islamic militant group seized energy there in 2007.

A radical Jewish group lately referred to as on folks to convey animals to the positioning to be able to sacrifice them for Passover, providing money rewards for many who succeeded and even tried. Israeli police work to stop such actions, however the name was broadly circulated by Palestinians on social media, together with requires Muslims to stop any sacrifices from happening.

Israeli police accused Palestinians of spreading disinformation on social media, heightening the tensions.