NEWS MIDDLE EAST Violence at al-Aqsa compound Israeli police arrested 17 Palestinians after
Friday's clashes in Jerusalem's Old City [AFP]
Clashes broke out between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after Friday prayers. Israeli policemen using tear gas and stun grenades entered the area around the mosque. Seventeen Palestinians were arrested and 17 Israeli police officers were reported to be wounded. Israeli riot police with the visors of their helmets pulled down scuffled with worshippers, some of them middle-aged or elderly. Medics tended several injured people lying on the stone pavement. Jewish worshippers were evacuated from the Western Wall plaza at the foot of the compound. Tense calm prevailed in the Old City by the end of the day. Day of Anger A "day of anger" on the Muslim day of rest had been called by Tayssir al-Tamimi, the Palestinian chief justice, who on Tuesday called for "all Palestinians to go and protect al-Aqsa against Israeli plans that aim to destroy the mosque". On Friday Palestinians hurled stones, bottles and rubbish in outrage over what Israel says is renovation work. Your Views "The daily teachings of suffering and hatred must be replaced with tolerance and co-existence" Docdeb, NY, US
Send us your views Israeli police streamed on to the hilltop compound known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, to try to quell what Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, called Muslims rioting over the repair work. Clouds of tear gas rose up at the holy site and stun grenades set off sharp booms. Twenty Palestinians were treated for injuries, a Palestinian medical source said. Witnesses said police arrested a number of people. Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said tear-gas shells and rubber-coated bullets were fired in different areas of the Old City, injuring a number of people. Dr Khalil el-Baba, a doctor treating some of the injured, also said Israeli officers fired rubber-coated steel bullets. Israeli police denied this. Friday prayers Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the Jerusalem mufti, who delivered the main Friday sermon, criticised what he called Israel's "aggression". He said: "We condemn this blatant Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa mosque and on the worshippers." Thousands of Palestinians had attended prayers at the mosque and heard him criticise the current Israeli works. Israel is "Judaizing Jerusalem", he declared, urging Muslims throughout the world to "protect" occupied East Jerusalem and the mosque esplanade. Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said the mufti issued calls for calm over the mosque's loudspeaker system, normally used for the call to prayer. Stun grenades Maher al-Ami, a journalist for Jerusalem's al-Quds newspaper, said: "We were at Friday prayers and suddenly they [the Israelis] began to shout and throw stun grenades." Adnan Husseini, director of the Muslim organisation Waqf, said: 'We are surrounded. There is one gate still open but they [the Israelis] won't let anyone leave." Rosenfeld said: "Seventeen policemen were hurt, nine of them taken to hospital. Seventeen Arab rioters were arrested and police are in full control. "Around 150 worshippers are now leaving in peace and quiet after dialogue between police and Muslim representatives." Heavy deployment Israel had deployed 3,000 police officers around Jerusalem's Old City in advance of Muslim prayers at the mosque compound, amid widespread Arab anger over Israeli excavation work nearby. Palestinians ran for cover when they were
charged by Israeli police on horseback [AFP] Ilan Franco, Jerusalem police chief, said officers were posted on Friday amid "intelligence indications" that disturbances could erupt. Arab states say the work could damage the foundations of the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. Speaking in Saudi Arabia, a day after striking a Palestinian unity government deal, Mahmoud Abbas, the president, said the Israeli works amounted to "hostile measures". Israeli authorities say the building work, begun on Tuesday, is being carried out to replace a centuries-old ramp 60 metres away. Thousands of Muslims regularly attend Friday prayers at al-Aqsa mosque. A controversial visit to the mosque compound in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then leader of the Israeli opposition, sparked the most recent intifada. Source: Agencies
Al-Aqsa mosque is regarded as the third holiest Islamic site.
Violent clashes have broken out between Palestinians and Israeli police near the al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount in Jerusalem, from controversy over Israeli construction near the site, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews.

The construction work reportedly is to repair a pedestrian bridge that leads to the Mugrabi Gate, the entrance to the mosque used by Palestinians, and runs over the Jewish Western Wall area of the complex.   The earthen ramp bridge leads to a hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.  The bridge collapsed in 2004 and was temporarily replaced with a wooden bridge which Israelis say is weakening and unsafe.  Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War,

The construction involves excavation work and digging at the site, which Palestinian leaders contend is part of an attempt to dig under the mosque to find evidence of the Jewish Second Temple and/or to deliberately weaken the foundation of the mosque. Muslims dispute that the Temple was located at the site. Some artifacts have been salvaged from the digging work.

Temple Mount and the Western wall.
Israeli forces locked down Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem in anticipation of backlashes from the construction. The Old Jerusalem city limits were blockaded, allowing only Palestinians over 45 years old from entering and only on foot. Palestinians from the West Bank were completely barred. Opponents have declared the blockades and the construction work a deliberate act to prevent Muslims from accessing the holy site. The mass of protesters at the site have in turn blocked Jewish access to the Western Wall.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared the construction and blockade as "hostile measures" against Muslims. Palestinian chief justice Tayssir al-Tamimi declared a "day of anger" and called on Palestinians to defend the mosque. 

Arab and Muslim countries including Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia criticized Israel for the controversial work and urged it to halt construction. Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz also warned against starting construction. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League urged Muslim countries to freeze diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of the work.

Around 150 Muslims were inside the mosque for morning prayers when the construction and blockade began. An Israeli Muslim journalist reported that the worshippers were unable to leave and received loud messages from Israeli loudspeakers.

The al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, having once been the central point of prayer (qibla) for Muslims and allegedly the place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. Conventional Judaism believes it is also the historic site of the First and Second Temples, the holiest temple in Judaism, which is prophesised to be rebuilt ahead of the coming of the Messiah.

No deaths have been reported in the clashes, which simmered by evening.

Demonstrations also took place at mosques throughout the Muslim world, including Egypt and Jordan. Protests were expected later in the day in Nazareth.

The incident comes only a few days after rival Palestinian political factions, Hamas and Fatah, came to an agreement for a unity government aimed at restoring international support of Palestine and a return to Israeli negotiations.