Palestinian women demonstrating after clashes at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque compound yesterday.

Israeli police forces used stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets against the Palestinians

AFP
Jerusalem


Palestinians and Israeli security forces clashed at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque compound yesterday, with further trouble feared in the week ahead as Jews celebrate the Sukkot holiday.
After the brief clashes on what was the last day of the  Eid al-Adha holiday, Palestinian protesters prepared “to defend” the mosque during the eight-day Jewish festival.
The Sukkot holiday which started at sunset is expected to lead to an increase in Jewish visitors to the Al Aqsa compound.
In yesterday’s disturbances, young masked Palestinians “threw stones and fireworks at police and border police forces”, who responded with “riot dispersal means”, Israeli police claimed.
Al Jazeera, reporting from Jerusalem, said police forces used stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets against the Palestinians.
Muslims have been alarmed by an increase in visits by Jews and fear rules governing the compound will be changed.
Al Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  claims he is committed to maintaining the status quo at the site despite the views of some hardliners within his governing coalition.
Visits by Jews were stopped yesterday and age restrictions on Muslim men entering the compound lifted for the Muslim holiday. But a ban on under-50s was re-imposed as Sukkot started.
Recent weeks have seen a series of Jewish holidays during which there has been an uptick in visits by Jews that have sparked repeated clashes. The same situation is feared over Sukkot.
The northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, which represents Arab communities in Israel, had urged Muslims to go to the compound to defend it yesterday.
Around 150 people were seen at the compound sporting green Islamic Movement caps, as well as several Arab Israeli deputies.
“Al Aqsa is a holy place, but it is also a national symbol for Palestinians and all Arabs,” said Sheikh Kamal Khabit, deputy head of the Islamic Movement.
“Jewish extremists want to destroy Al Aqsa to build a third temple.”
“We’re going to defend our mosque,” said a 21-year-old man in a tracksuit and mask as he stayed inside the mosque with other youths after yesterday’s clashes.
They barricaded the mosque’s doors with wood and other debris as they have done during previous protests.
In past raids, Israeli police have briefly entered the mosque to close the door on protesters inside.
Earlier this month over the Jewish New Year holiday, or Rosh Hashanah, police raided the Al Aqsa compound.
Clashes occurred over three consecutive days between groups of Palestinians and police, provoking international calls for calm at the highly sensitive site.

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