fight near Al-Aqsa

Violence broke out near Al-Aqsa mosque between Palestinians and the Israeli police on Sunday. Jivara al-Budairi of Al-Jazeera said that the showdown occurred when the Israeli police fired tear gas and stun grenades at the Palestinian youth and students of the area.

At least 18 Palestinians were injured and 3 Israeli officers were hurt in the fight. The religious site is a flashpoint holy for both Muslims and the jews. For Muslims it is al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) while for jews it is the temple mount.

The police sources said that at least 16 Palestinians were arrested to bring the situation under control and to restore calmness.

When the Israeli police started firing stun grenades the youth retaliated and started pelting stones back at police. Extra troops were deployed by the Israeli police near the site after the Palestinians called in for demonstrations as the right wing jews were planning to assemble over the place.

The demonstrations started and the clashes erupted as the Israeli group announced to gather near the mosque compound and near the adjacent western wall. Palestinian presidents spokesman said that the president condemned the attack and “the storming of Haram al-Sharif by Israeli forces” and called for “halt all provocative acts” by Israel.

Nabil Abu Rudeina said “Jerusalem is a red line that cannot be crossed” and called for the international community to muscle in and “put pressure on the Israeli government”.

Kamal Khatib of Israeli Arab Islamic Movement said “The police always excuse their attacks by saying that the worshipers threw stones, it is clear they just want to justify their crimes”.

Jacky Rowland of Al-Jazeera agency said that “Palestinians living in the occupied part of the city put up with a lot of indignity and harassment on a daily basis – demolitions, evictions, checkpoints.

But when it comes to anything that threatens the integrity of al-Aqsa mosque, that is where people’s patience snaps and that is why we have seen such an angry response all over East Jerusalem [from people] who see this as a very heavy display of police might”.

Israel captured the compound from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War and since then it is claiming Jerusalem to be its own.