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| Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque sees Israeli-Palestinian clashes | Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque sees Israeli-Palestinian clashes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israeli police clashed with Palestinian youths after entering the al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem. | Israeli police clashed with Palestinian youths after entering the al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem. |
| Police say they entered the site "to prevent riots". They were reported to have used tear gas and stun grenades, and were attacked with rocks and fireworks. | |
| Similar clashes took place at the end of July. | Similar clashes took place at the end of July. |
| Al-Aqsa is one of Islam's holiest sites and is in the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif site also revered by Jews. | Al-Aqsa is one of Islam's holiest sites and is in the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif site also revered by Jews. |
| The holy compound is a source of religious and political tension between Israel and the Palestinians. It is a frequent flashpoint for violence. | The holy compound is a source of religious and political tension between Israel and the Palestinians. It is a frequent flashpoint for violence. |
| The clashes come hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. | The clashes come hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. |
| Police were quoted in the Israeli media as saying the Palestinian youths who had barricaded themselves into the mosque were planning disruption to prevent Jews visiting the site. | Police were quoted in the Israeli media as saying the Palestinian youths who had barricaded themselves into the mosque were planning disruption to prevent Jews visiting the site. |
| Security forces launched a surprise raid at around 06:45 (03:45 GMT) in the hope of opening the site as planned, Haaretz newspaper reports. | Security forces launched a surprise raid at around 06:45 (03:45 GMT) in the hope of opening the site as planned, Haaretz newspaper reports. |
| The police said in a statement that masked youths within the mosque "threw stones and fireworks" and that pipe bombs had been found. | The police said in a statement that masked youths within the mosque "threw stones and fireworks" and that pipe bombs had been found. |
| They denied reports from some witnesses that they had entered the mosque itself, saying that they had locked the doors to keep the youths inside. | They denied reports from some witnesses that they had entered the mosque itself, saying that they had locked the doors to keep the youths inside. |
| An Israeli police spokesman said there had been no injuries, but according to some Palestinian witnesses several people were wounded. | An Israeli police spokesman said there had been no injuries, but according to some Palestinian witnesses several people were wounded. |
| There were reports of further clashes outside the compound, in Jerusalem's Old City, and Israeli police are now said to be patrolling its narrow alleyways. | There were reports of further clashes outside the compound, in Jerusalem's Old City, and Israeli police are now said to be patrolling its narrow alleyways. |
| One Palestinian woman, Khadijeh Khweis, told the AFP news agency that they had been prevented from entering al-Aqsa mosque. | One Palestinian woman, Khadijeh Khweis, told the AFP news agency that they had been prevented from entering al-Aqsa mosque. |
| "They were chasing us with (stun) grenades and it's been like that since the morning," she said. | "They were chasing us with (stun) grenades and it's been like that since the morning," she said. |
| "We could only pray in front of the doors (leading to the complex)." | "We could only pray in front of the doors (leading to the complex)." |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called an "attack by the occupier's military and police against the al-Aqsa mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there". | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called an "attack by the occupier's military and police against the al-Aqsa mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there". |
| Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the site was now open to Jews wanting to visit for Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sunset on Sunday and continues until Tuesday evening. | Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the site was now open to Jews wanting to visit for Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sunset on Sunday and continues until Tuesday evening. |
| And he warned that he was reconsidering what he called "the customary arrangements" of the site, saying it was "unthinkable" that Palestinians could make the area "their stronghold". | And he warned that he was reconsidering what he called "the customary arrangements" of the site, saying it was "unthinkable" that Palestinians could make the area "their stronghold". |
| Tensions have been running high in the city since Israel Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week banned two Muslim groups which confront Jewish visitors to the compound. | Tensions have been running high in the city since Israel Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week banned two Muslim groups which confront Jewish visitors to the compound. |
| Mr Yaalon said the groups were the main sources of tension and violence at the site and said banning them was necessary to public order. | Mr Yaalon said the groups were the main sources of tension and violence at the site and said banning them was necessary to public order. |