Sunday, October 25, 2009
AP Oct. 25: Masked Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli policemen during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem. Oct. 25: Masked Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli policemen during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem.
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's holiest shrine Sunday, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in a fresh eruption of violence at the most volatile spot in the Holy Land.
A wall of Israeli riot police behind plexiglass shields closed in on the crowd, sending many protesters — overwhelmingly young men — running for cover into the black-domed Al-Aqsa mosque. (But I'm sure the mosque preaches that Islam is a religion of peace!) The mosque is one part of the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
Dozens of protesters remained holed up inside the mosque for several hours, occasionally opening shuttered doors to throw objects at police. The Israeli forces did not enter the building, and the protesters eventually left peacefully and the compound was closed, police said. There were no serious injuries.
Israel's national police chief, David Cohen, accused a small group of Muslim extremists of trying to foment violence — echoing a charge made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two weeks ago.
"The police will act with a strong hand against anyone who disrupts order on the Temple Mount and against those incite to riot," Cohen said.
Religious and nationalist sentiment connected with the site have made it a flashpoint for violence in the past. A visit in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then an Israeli opposition leader, helped ignite deadly clashes that escalated into violence that engulfed Israel and the Palestinian territories for several years. Sharon was subsequently elected prime minister.
Sunday's clashes were the most intense in the past month of unrest around the compound. Frictions in recent weeks have stemmed largely from rumors among Palestinians about Israeli plans to allows Jews to pray at the site or to dig under the compound and harm the Muslim buildings there.
Israel has carried out numerous archaeological digs in nearby areas, but says the work does not threaten the compound. Two weeks ago, Netanyahu angrily dismissed accusations that Israel is trying to sabotage Muslim holy sites as "baseless" lies.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority condemned the Israeli police action. (NO! REALLY!!!)
"Jerusalem is a red line that Israel should not cross," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas.
Muslim leaders had urged their followers to gather at the compound early Sunday in response to what they said was a planned "Jewish conquest."
(How long before the UN condemns and Obama berates Israel? 3..2..1..)
Muslims Stone Jews at Holiest Jewish Site
Skin crawling ............barbarian alert.
between security forces and Arab rioters in the capital.
Police were forced to enter the Temple Mount twice during the the day of fierce rioting, and were met by a hail of rocks and a firebomb.
A female Australian journalist was struck in the head by a rock during the disturbances, apparently after being caught between rioters and security forces near an entrance to the Temple Mount in the Muslim Quarter. She was treated at the scene.
Police said the disturbances began when officers were accompanying a group of tourists up to the mount. According to police, several Muslim
They stone Jews, it's what they do> What "religion" stones those praying?
I've seen videos from the Palestinians where they fake Israeli atrocities. One of the best documenters of this behavior is Michelle Malkin on her blogs.
Posted by: Reasonsjester | Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 05:41 PM