Palestinians, Israeli police clash at holy site

The incident on Sunday preceded the start of Jewish New Year celebrations set for later Sunday evening and followed the outlawing of two Muslim groups at the site by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon last week.

The compound is holy to both faiths. Sunday's incident was reminiscent of a confrontation in late July.

Until their banning, the Muslim groups had confronted Jewish visitors to the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, which, long under Jordanian supervision, has complex rules on access and religious practice.

Claim and counter-claim

Muslim witnesses accused Israeli police of entering much further into the mosque than would have been needed to close its doors and of scorching prayer mats.

An Israeli police statement said "masked protestors who were inside the mosque threw stones and fireworks at police," adding that they observed piping at the entrance that "could have been filled with homemade explosives."

Khadijeh Khweis, a member of one of the two groups banned, said she and others were chased by police using stun grenades on Sunday.

Fears on both sides

Jews are forbidden from praying or displaying national symbols for fear of triggering Muslim resentment. Muslims fear Israel wants to change the rules governing the compound.

Calm was reported to have returned to the complex on Sunday, although clashes continued outside in the alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City.

Israel seized east Jerusalem, where the mosque is located, in the so-called Six Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community.

ipj/sms (AFP, dpa, KNA)