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Jerusalem violence: More clashes ahead of nationalist march Jerusalem violence: More clashes ahead of nationalist march
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of Palestinians and more than 20 police officers have been injured in the violenceHundreds of Palestinians and more than 20 police officers have been injured in the violence
Fresh clashes have broken out between Israeli police and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque site in Jerusalem, ahead of a planned Jewish nationalist march. There have been clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police outside the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, ahead of a planned Jewish nationalist march.
Palestinians threw stones at Israeli security forces, who fired stun grenades, according to reports. More than 200 people were injured, as crowds threw stones and officers fired stun grenades in response.
Hundreds of Palestinians and more than 20 Israeli police have been injured in clashes over the past three days. It comes amid soaring tensions in the city, which has seen weeks of unrest.
There are fears of more violence on Monday over the annual Jerusalem Day Flag March. Earlier, Israeli police decided to bar Jews from visiting the compound where the mosque is located during the annual Jerusalem Day Flag March.
The event marks Israel's capture of East Jerusalem - home to the Old City and its holy sites - in 1967, and usually sees young Zionists walk through Muslim areas. The event marks Israel's capture of East Jerusalem - home to the Old City and its holy sites - in 1967, and usually sees hundreds of flag-waving Israeli youth make their way through Muslim areas, chanting and singing patriotic songs.
It is regarded by many Palestinians as a deliberate provocation. It is regarded by many Palestinians as a deliberate provocation. This year's march is also taking place in the final days of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Every year, thousands of Jewish nationalists march through Jerusalem's Old City to the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites (file photo) The al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, is located on a hilltop complex known by Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and by Jews as the Temple Mount. Jews revere it as the location of two Biblical Temples and it is the holiest site in Judaism.
The latest violence follows a month of tensions, with the threatened eviction of Palestinian families a focal point. The latest violence follows days of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in the nearby Sheikh Jarrah district of East Jerusalem, with the possible eviction of Palestinian families from their homes there by Jewish settlers a focal point for Palestinian anger.
Israel's Supreme Court had been due to hold a hearing on Monday in the appeal of more than 70 people against an eviction order in favour of a Jewish settler organisation in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah district, but the session was postponed due to the unrest. Israel's Supreme Court had been due to hold a hearing in the long-running case on Monday, but the session was postponed due to the unrest.
What happened in the latest clashes? The UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss the situation.
Clashes broke out on at the Al-Aqsa mosque complex, one of Islam's most revered locations. It is also the holiest site in Judaism, known as the Temple Mount. What happened at the al-Aqsa mosque?
What makes Jerusalem so holy? Israel's police force said thousands of Palestinians barricaded themselves in the building overnight with stones and Molotov cocktails in anticipation a confrontation during the Jerusalem Day Flag March, which was scheduled to start at about 16:00 (13:00 GMT).
Hundreds of Palestinians threw projectiles at security forces, who responded with stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets, according to AFP news agency, which reported that dozens of people had been injured. Extremist Palestinians planned well in advance to carry out riots today on the #TempleMount. What we see now is the result of that. We guarentee the freedom to pray, not the freedom to riot and attack innocent people. The police is working to restore calm.#Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/QGcg2StfgX
In a statement, Israeli police said that security forces were "working to eradicate the violence on the Temple Mount, along with increased activity in other areas of the Old City". Officers were ordered to enter the mosque compound to "repel the rioters using demonstration dispersal methods" on Monday morning after a police post was attacked and stones were thrown towards a nearby road, it added.
Monday's clashes followed three nights of violence in the city. For over an hour, police fired stun grenades at Palestinians who threw stones and other objects.
On Sunday, Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah threw stones at Israeli police, while the officers responded by firing stun grenades and water cannon. There were more skirmishes near the Old City's Damascus Gate. Video posted online appeared to show that some of the stun-grenade canisters fired by the police in response landed inside the mosque.
Palestinian medics said a number of protesters were injured.
The rising tensions have prompted international calls for calm and restraintThe rising tensions have prompted international calls for calm and restraint
The Palestinian Red Crescent said more than 215 Palestinians were injured, and that at least 80 were taken to hospital for treatment. One person was in a critical condition, it added.
The Israeli police force said nine officers were injured, one of whom needed hospital treatment.
During clashes outside the Old City walls, a car was pelted with stones before crashing into bollards and hitting a man.
Jerusalem, a short while ago: A Jewish man narrowly escapes lynching after his car is pelted with rocks. A policeman on the scene stops the violent mob. pic.twitter.com/OmkwkfGPQv
"Extremist Palestinians planned well in advance to carry out riots today on the Temple Mount," Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted after the clashes. "What we see now is the result of that."
Hundreds of people were left injured in clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces over the weekend around the al-Aqsa mosque.
Confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis were also reported in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, and near the West Bank city of Ramallah.Confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis were also reported in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, and near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended police action against Palestinian protesters on Sunday, saying his government "shall not allow any radical element to undermine the calm" in the city. King Abdullah II of Jordan, which is the custodian of Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites, condemned "Israeli violations and escalatory practices at the blessed al-Aqsa mosque".
Neighbouring Jordan, custodian of Muslim holy sites in East Jerusalem, has condemned the actions of Israeli security forces. Jordan assumed custody of the sites when it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1948 Middle East war, and was allowed to continue the role after the areas fell to Israel in 1967.
The Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the US, the EU, Russia and the UN - has also expressed concern over the spiralling violence, urging all sides to show restraint. The Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the US, the EU, Russia and the UN - has also expressed deep concern over the violence, urging all sides to show restraint.
The UN Security Council will discuss the issue later on Monday.
What is fuelling the violence?What is fuelling the violence?
Tensions have escalated since the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in mid-April, with a series of events driving the unrest.Tensions have escalated since the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in mid-April, with a series of events driving the unrest.
As Ramadan began, clashes erupted nightly between police and Palestinians protesting against security barriers outside Damascus Gate, which had prevented them from gathering there during the evening.As Ramadan began, clashes erupted nightly between police and Palestinians protesting against security barriers outside Damascus Gate, which had prevented them from gathering there during the evening.
Why the ancient city of Jerusalem is so important
Palestinian anger was further exacerbated by a march by ultra-nationalist Jewish extremists, close to the same area, held in protest at a spate of videos posted on social media that showed Palestinians assaulting ultra-Orthodox Jews in the city, and by revenge assaults on Palestinians by Jewish extremists.Palestinian anger was further exacerbated by a march by ultra-nationalist Jewish extremists, close to the same area, held in protest at a spate of videos posted on social media that showed Palestinians assaulting ultra-Orthodox Jews in the city, and by revenge assaults on Palestinians by Jewish extremists.
The fate of East Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the right to it. Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in a move not recognised by the vast majority of the international community, and considers the entire city its capital.The fate of East Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming the right to it. Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in a move not recognised by the vast majority of the international community, and considers the entire city its capital.
Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the future capital of a hoped-for independent state.Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the future capital of a hoped-for independent state.
Why the ancient city of Jerusalem is so important