Jerusalem, July 18, (dpa/GNA) – There were renewed confrontations on Sunday at a Jerusalem holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary.
On the Jewish fasting and mourning feast of Tisha B’Av, young Muslims threw stones at police officers on the compound, according to police reports. According to media reports, they were protesting against the visit of hundreds of Jews to the Temple Mount.
The site 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 two Jewish temples used to stand there.
The site is under Muslim administration, while Israel is responsible for security.
The Muslim festival Eid al-Adha also falls in this week.
According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the site, but not to pray there. However, Israeli television reported on Saturday that Israel had tacitly allowed Jews to pray at the holy site in recent months – a violation of the status quo. Palestinians regard visits by Jews as a provocation.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, had called on Palestinians to “march back to Jerusalem” and protect the Noble Sanctuary before the holiday.
On May 10, Hamas had fired rockets at the city on Jerusalem Day. Hamas described the attack at the time as a reaction to Israel’s actions on the Temple Mount and in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where Israel has forced evictions of residents.
GNA