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Temple Mount complex in calmer times (file photo)
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| By Ynetnews February 9, 2007 |
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Police forced their way into the Temple Mount, firing stun grenades at Muslim rioters who hurled stones at policemen in protest at renovation work near the complex shortly after Friday prayers ended.
Five Arab youths have been arrested outside the Old City, police said, for hurling stones and inciting for violence. A total of 17 arrests have been made.
Sky TV reported 17 Arabs were injured in the clashes and 15 Israeli policemen hurt, most of them lightly. Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall plaza were evacuated when violence broke out.
As of 3pm, Israeli police reported that the situation was fully under control on the Temple Mount, and that Arab worshippers who previously sheltered inside the Al-Aksa mosque had been let out after the rioters agreed to disperse.
Over 3,000 policemen were deployed in Jerusalem as police raised the level of alert in the capital for fear of riots over digs near the Temple Mount and plans to renovate a ramp leading to the Mughrabi gate leading to the Mount.
A number of worshipers who barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa Mosque to avoid police arrest were convinced by a number of Arab MKs to vacate peacefully after police officer promised not to arrest them for throwing stones.
The Waqf, the religious Muslim endowment that rules the Temple Mount, warned police against storming the mosque to nab the suspects.
Police said they regained control of the area but television footage showed a number of men hurling stones at policemen from within the complex.
Protests reach Jenin, Tul Karem
A group of rioters hurled three Molotov cocktails at a police force stationed at the Old City's Lions' Gate, but no injuries were reported.
Over 6,000 Muslim worshipers congregated on the Temple Mount for Friday prayers, which ended shortly before 1 pm.
Police limited access to Friday prayers to men over 45 years of age in possession of Israeli IDs. In a further attempt to defuse tensions, the excavations under the Mugrabi Gate were ordered halted Friday and Saturday.
Police also raised the level of alert in the Galilee over plans by the Islamic Movement to hold a mass protest against the digs in Nazareth on Friday afternoon.
Police chief Moshe Karadi ordered hundreds of policemen from across the country to head to Nazareth in anticipation of possible riots there.
The protests reached the West Bank towns of Jenin and Tul Karem where thousands of angry Palestinians thronged the streets shouting slogans against Israel and demanding the renovation work be stopped. |
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