© Baz Ratner/Reuters
Clashes have broken out at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem between Israeli security forces and Palestinians. Eyewitnesses said that the trouble flared after soldiers entered the compound.
Police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets against the Palestinians, with an Al Jazeera correspondent at the scene reporting: "It doesn't appear as if the clashes went far beyond the gate where police entered, nor are there reports of any injuries."The security forces entered the holy site after "masked youths hurled stones and fireworks at police," Israeli police said.
The clashes come at a sensitive time - at the end of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday and the beginning of the Jewish Succot festival.
Al-Asqa is the third holiest site in Islam, and is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and is considered the most sacred place in Judaism.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon stated that there would be no age restrictions on Muslims allowed to visit Al-Asqa, while he added that Jewish visitors would be barred from visiting the site in order to avoid any tensions between the two groups, the
Times of Israel reported.
However, Palestinians became agitated after Israeli police tried to give Jewish activists the opportunity to tour the grounds of the compound. They feared that Israel maybe trying to reign in on the pledge by Yaalon not to allow Jews to visit the mosque on Sunday.
Comment: Last November, Netanyahu's Housing Minister said the Israel would demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Jewish Temple in its place.
Israeli occupation has decided to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and built the so-called Jewish Temple in its place.
Just hours after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not change the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of his minister said that 'Israel' would demolish it and build the Jewish Temple in place of the Mosque.
Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel said that 'Israel' cannot maintain the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque, which, he claims, "was built in the place of the holiest place for Jews".
Speaking to the Israeli Kol Berama radio station run by the Jewish extremist movement Shas, Ariel said building the Jewish Temple is the paramount demand of the Torah as it is at the forefront of Jewish salvation.
From February of this year:
1,000 Israeli settlers invade al-Aqsa Mosque in JanuaryIt looks as though he will follow through with his destruction of this Muslim holy site.
Comment: Last November, Netanyahu's Housing Minister said the Israel would demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Jewish Temple in its place. From February of this year: 1,000 Israeli settlers invade al-Aqsa Mosque in January
It looks as though he will follow through with his destruction of this Muslim holy site.