Jerusalem: Israeli police arrested 13
Palestinians in the grounds of Jerusalem`s flashpoint Al-Aqsa
mosque complex on Sunday after police and tourists visiting the
site were stoned, a police spokesman said.
"Stones were thrown at tourists and police officers.
Police have made thirteen arrests," Micky Rosenfeld said.
"The situation is calm at present."
He said he did not know the cause of the incident.
Nasser Kos, a resident of Jerusalem`s Old City who was at
the site during the incident said that a group of
Christian tourists entered the compound. Among them,
Palestinians identified religious Jews and began hurling
stones at police, Kos said.
Police used tear gas to disperse the Palestinians, none of
whom was hurt, Kos said.
Rosenfeld said one policeman was lightly injured by a
stone that hit him on the head, and he was treated on the
site.
A Palestinian protest was staged a week ago at the site,
which is revered by Jews as the site of their biblical Jewish
temple, when a group of Jewish nationalist hardliners
attempted to visit.
They were prevented by police from doing so and calm was
restored.
The Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount, is
home to the third-most sacred site in Islam. It is venerated
by Jews as their holiest site, where King Herod`s temple once
stood before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
PTI
