Palestinians and Israeli Police Clash at Holy Site in Jerusalem

Known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and considered the holiest site in Judaism, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), and considered to be the third holiest site in Islam, the hilltop complex in the Old City of Jerusalem where Sunday's clashes occurred has, says the London Times, been central to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Controlled by Israel since 1967 but administered on a day-to-day basis by a council of Muslims called the Waqf, the complex is where both the al-Aqsa Mosque and gold-covered Dome of the Rock can be found, the latter being the oldest standing Islamic structure in the world. With leaders of the local Muslim community having recently accused Israel of attempting to damage their holy sites within the complex, according to the London Times there is no proof that the Israelis intend to cause such damage, feelings were already running high. Therefore, when an Arabic radio station in Jerusalem told its listeners that a takeover of the site, from where Islam's founder the Prophet Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven, by Jewish settlers was imminent, Palestinian protesters began to gather with the intention of preventing the takeover. Ynet News seems to suggest that there may have been some truth to the rumors broadcast by the radio station as right-wing groups had apparently appealed to Jews to descend on the Temple Mount/al-Haram al-Sharif. The protesters poured oil on the ground in order to impede the Israeli forces who were called to the complex and stones were thrown at the riot police, as reportedly were Molotov cocktails and acid. Riot police responded with water cannons and stun grenades. Whilst the London Times states that police did not actually enter the holy site, Ynet News and Press Trust of India report that they did enter. Arrests were made, 21 says one report, and amongst those arrested were a senior member of Fatah, Khatem Abdel Kader, and a leading member of the Islamic Movement, Ali Abu Sheikha. It is the Islamic Movement which appears to have been chiefly responsible for urging the protesters, who numbered in the hundreds, to gather. Ahmad Tibi, an Arab member of the Israeli legislature the Knesset, came to witness the disturbances for himself but was stopped from entering the complex by the police, although he was not arrested. He said:

This is extremely severe. The police are violating the law. It's not in their authority. The al-Aqsa Mosque is not a closed military zone

There were a number of people injured during the clashes, no serious injuries were reported, including as many as nine police officers and, reported the Waqf, eight, possibly more, Muslim worshipers. Ynet News indicates that a female Australian journalist also sustained slight injuries.