A Palestinian youth throws a Molotov cocktail at Israeli border policeman, not seen, during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron, Sunday Feb. 11, 2007. Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem and the West Bank in a new wave of protests against ongoing Israeli construction near a flash point Jerusalem's Old City holy site. Photograph by : AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi
Some 3,000 Jerusalem police on high alert for Friday prayers
Several Jerusalem policemen were wounded today as Muslim worshippers attacked police with rocks and glass bottles on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Hundreds of Palestinians were protesting against the restricted access to Friday afternoon prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque imposed by Israel for fear of unrest over the renovation work outside the Temple Mount complex.
According to The Jerusalem Post, police fired stun grenades and a number of rioters were arrested, while several dozen protestors barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque itself. The Western Wall was evacuated for the safety of Jewish worshippers.
The work, which is taking place dozens of meters outside the holy site, is in preparation for the construction of a new bridge to the Mughrabi Gate, and has spurred Muslim calls for violence and a new intifada. Some 3,000 police officers remain deployed throughout the Old City and nearby areas of east Jerusalem to help prevent rioting or possible terror attacks.
(Jerusalem Post)
