The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed
Hussein said that the clashes erupted after the Israeli security forces broke
into the mosque in “a provocative way.”
Hussein added that the Israeli forces arrested at least
three Palestinians during the clashes. He added stun grenades, tear gas canisters
and rubber bullets were used to disperse the protesters. No injuries have been
reported.
Shmuel Ben-Ruby, Jerusalem police spokesman, said that
security forces “were forced to enter the complex” after the Palestinian
worshipers hurled stones at the Al-Magharebah Gate adjacent to the Al-Buraq
Wall (Western Wall) at the end of Friday prayers.
Ben-Ruby added that the security forces arrested three
worshippers, one of whom is suspected of hurling stones. The other two are
suspected of inciting violence. He added that the detainees were taken for
questioning as the rest of the worshippers left the area. The Jerusalem police
said that more arrests are expected.
The spokesman added that the Israeli forces decided not to
restrict the entrance of young worshippers to the complex this week.
Israeli security forces usually only allow worshippers over
the age of 50 to enter the site when there is intelligence suggesting others
may try to cause provocations.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the June 1967 War, annexed
it, and has since built settlements there that are home to more than 200,000
Jewish occupiers.
Control over the city has been seen as the most sensitive
and thorniest issue of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians hope to make
East Jerusalem the capital of their future state but the Israel says the city
is its eternal capital.
