Israeli police, Palestinians clash at Jerusalem holy site
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police raided the plaza outside Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday in what they said was a bid to head off Palestinian attempts to disrupt visits by Jews and foreign tourists on the eve of the Jewish New Year.
Clashes rock Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound AFP
Israel police clash with Palestinians at Jerusalem holy site Associated Press
Police used tear gas and threw stun grenades toward Palestinian youths, who barricaded themselves inside the mosque and hurled rocks and flares, a Reuters witness said. Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, in a statement, said the Palestinian youngsters also had pipe bombs.
There was no sign these had been detonated. No serious injuries were reported and the compound, revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount, was opened to visitors after the violence subsided, police said.
A statement from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he “strongly condemned the aggression of the Israeli storming of al-Aqsa this morning with troops and occupation police”.
Al Aqsa official Radwan Amr said 32 of the mosque’s windows were completely or partially destroyed, a door was shattered and the carpet burned in 12 places.
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Arutz Sheva:
“Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s right to defend itself on Sunday, after the Arab world condemned the Jewish state for protecting itself during an Arab mob attack on the Temple Mount.”
Aggressive pre-emptive “defence” aimed at provoking a Palestinian reaction which would immediately be sensationalized as an act of terrorism.
What can one say? An ineffably sordid – scraping the bottom of the moral barrel – action, driven by what could only be genocidal hatred and bloodlust.
Speaks volumes when you have to “defend” you right to defend yourself.