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Five Palestinian Jerusalemites were detained on Sunday, as clashes
erupted between Israeli forces and police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound, after storming the site with discord reported throughout the
Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
28
february 2010 -
Mickey Rosenfeld, Israeli police spokesman, said "tourists entered the
Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa compound] and were attacked by 20 masked
Palestinians, throwing stones. Police immediately responded to disperse
them." Rosenfeld confirmed Israeli authorities have placed an age limit
on Palestinians entering the site to 50 and over.
Ma'an's Jerusalem correspondent reported that four settlers were allowed
access to the Al-Aqsa compound with a police escort.
Dozens of Palestinian worshipers spent the night at site, fearing a
settler take-over during the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Four Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets fired by Israeli
soldiers near Herod's Gate and Bab Hutta. Additionally, 12 gathering
near the Bab Al-Majlis were injured as Israeli forces deployed tear-gas
canisters near the gate leading into the Al-Aqsa compound. Fatima
Al-Barsi, 40, sustained a leg fracture after reportedly being attacked
by Israeli soldiers as she tried to enter the site.
Clashes between Palestinians living throughout the Old City and Israeli
forces were reported, with Palestinians saying their homes were used as
vantage points by Israeli forces.
Rosenfeld said police did not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but surrounded
the compound. He added that "1,000 tourist visits continue" in the area.
Over 200 Israeli soldiers and police surrounded the mosque, using
loudspeakers calling on worshipers to evacuate the site, Ma'an's
correspondent said. Palestinians responded by using the loudspeakers in
the mosque, used to call Muslims to prayer, to urge Palestinians to head
to the city.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli forces and police erected checkpoints at all
gates leading into the Old City of Jerusalem in the occupied part of the
city, preventing entry to all Palestinians under the age of 50.
At the beginning of the week, extremist groups called on sympathizers to
gather at the Buraq square, known to Israelis as the Wailing Wall, and
march on the Al-Aqsa compound. Palestinians spent the night in the
Al-Aqsa compound to prevent their entry, it was reported.
In response, Palestinian national and religious leaders in Jerusalem and
in Israel urged Palestinians to prevent the anticipated take-over by
amassing at the mosque to prevent the entry of extremist settlers.
The compound is a frequent site of clashes, as tensions run high in the
Old City over Israeli excavations and rumors of settlers amassing at the
site. In October 2009, 30 Palestinians were injured, including five
journalists, and 20 detained as clashes erupted at the compound between
worshipers and Israeli forces and police.
The compound, known by Muslims as the Haram Ash-Sharif, is the third
holiest site in Islam, believed to be the location where the Prophet
Muhammad ascended to heaven and returned. The site is the holiest for
Jews, who believe it to be the site of the Second Temple, destroyed by
the Romans in 70 AD, and is referred to by Jews and Israelis as the
Temple Mount.
The Old City has been sealed by Israeli authorities from the beginning
of Purim on Friday until 1 March, marking the end of the religious
holiday.
Additionally, all border crossings into Gaza have been closed, as the
West Bank remains sealed until the end of Purim.
maanews.net
http://www.holylandfree.org/palestinian_detained_on_sunday.htm
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