MIDDLE EAST: Palestinians protesting Israeli visits to a revered site in Jerusalem clash with police, who hurled stun grenades to contain the disturbance
Record ID:
214062
MIDDLE EAST: Palestinians protesting Israeli visits to a revered site in Jerusalem clash with police, who hurled stun grenades to contain the disturbance
- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Palestinians protesting Israeli visits to a revered site in Jerusalem clash with police, who hurled stun grenades to contain the disturbance
- Date: 25th September 2013
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) HAMAS SPOKESPERSON SAMI ABU ZUHRI AT HIS OFFICE ABU ZUHRI WRITING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS SPOKESPERSON IN GAZA, SAMI ABU ZUHRI, SAYING: "What is happening in Jerusalem are crimes and targeting by Israel, that is very dangerous and unprecedented. So we ask all of our Palestinian nation who can reach Al-Aqsa compound to go there and protect this mosque. And we in the Hamas movement assure that we will use all national and military options to protect Al-Aqsa mosque." HAMAS AND PALESTINIAN FLAGS HAMAS MILITANT WITH MACHINE GUN HAMAS MILITANT ON VEHICLE HAMAS MILITANT WITH ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE LAUNCHER HAMAS MILITANTS HOLDING WEAPONS VARIOUS OF HAMAS MILITARY ARM IN STREET RALLY VARIOUS OF HAMAS MILITANTS MARCHING IN MILITARY RALLY
- Embargoed: 10th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem, Gaza
- City:
- Country: Gaza Jerusalem
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8DMWNP5W2MCC2QBCYZ2EZDNOX
- Story Text: Palestinian worshippers clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem's old city on Wednesday (September 25), as Jewish visitors tried to enter a compound sacred to both Jews and Muslims.
Israeli police escorted Jewish visitors to the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's ancient walled city, sparking outrage from Palestinian worshippers.
Palestinians have long objected to Jewish presence in the site, also known as the Al Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site.
Israeli police said Palestinians threw stones, bottles and firecrackers at police officers who were escorting tourists and Jewish visitors seeing the site on the eve of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday.
Police troops entered the compound and threw stun grenades to disperse rioters but did not enter the mosque building, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Palestinian women outside the compound gate scuffled with police, chanting "God, we have only you by our side." The women tried blocking young Jewish men carrying palm fronds from approaching the gate, but were shoved by Israeli police.
The police spokesman said two suspects were arrested in the old city for throwing stones at security forces.
The sacred site has been a flashpoint of tensions in recent weeks. Similar clashes have taken place, following Jews' visits to the compound. The police said such visits are following a regular schedule.
Thousands of Jews have been praying at the Western Wall, a stone's throw away from the Al Aqsa compound, for the stretch of Jewish holidays in September.
Following Yom Kippur or the day of atonement, Jews started observing Sukkot last week. It is a biblical holiday recalling the Israelites' 40 years of desert travel after the Exodus from Egypt.
In Gaza City, the military arm of Hamas paraded the streets with a show of arms, expressing support for Palestinians worshipping in Al Aqsa mosque and opposition to Israel's policies in Jerusalem.
"What is happening in Jerusalem are crimes and targeting by Israel, that is very dangerous and unprecedented. So we ask all of our Palestinian nation who can reach Al-Aqsa compound to go there and protect this mosque. And we in the Hamas movement assure that we will use all national and military options to protect Al-Aqsa mosque," Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Al-Aqsa is wedged atop the ramparts of Jerusalem's walled Old City and was originally erected 1,300 years ago. Palestinians have long opposed Jewish worship at the site and their concerns have recently been heightened by the fact that allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among the most vocal advocates of Jewish prayer at the 35-acre site.
Israel captured the area, along with the rest of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Middle East war.
The Jewish state then annexed East Jerusalem as part of its capital in a move never recognised internationally.
In 2000, Palestinian protests over a visit to the site by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon spiralled into deadly clashes and a five-year Palestinian uprising in which thousands died.
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