Middle East
Scores injured in clashes on Temple Mount
Palestinian protesters use makeshift shields during clashes with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City. Photo: Mahmoud Illean/AP/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Clashes on the Temple Mount continue, increasing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. As a result of Ramadan and Passover, there is also a lot of activity in Jerusalem’s old town.
Scores of people have been injured in new confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Palestinian rescue service Red Crescent reported 57 injured Palestinians, 14 of whom were treated in hospitals. For a week there have been repeated clashes on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif). The clashes have further intensified tensions following a wave of terror in recent weeks.
Police reported dozens of masked people throwing stones and firecrackers. Some Muslim believers tried unsuccessfully to stop the stone-throwers. A police officer was injured.
For the first time since the beginning of the year, militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired rockets into the Israeli border area this week. Israel responded by attacking targets of the Islamist Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip.
Ramadan and Passover
A particularly large number of Muslims are currently coming to the Temple Mount to pray there during the fasting month of Ramadan. In addition, more and more Jewish visitors were out and about in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Passover festival this week.
The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there.
The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews can visit the facility but not pray there. The Palestinians accuse Israel of wanting to expand the rights of believing Jews on the holy site.