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| As Israeli Police Lock Al Aksa Mosque, U.N. Chief Denounces ‘Provocations’ | As Israeli Police Lock Al Aksa Mosque, U.N. Chief Denounces ‘Provocations’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JERUSALEM — The secretary general of the United Nations on Monday condemned what he called “provocations” at Jerusalem’s holy sites, hours after the Israeli police said officers had locked Palestinians inside Al Aksa Mosque to thwart a riot as Jews visited for the holiday of Sukkot. | JERUSALEM — The secretary general of the United Nations on Monday condemned what he called “provocations” at Jerusalem’s holy sites, hours after the Israeli police said officers had locked Palestinians inside Al Aksa Mosque to thwart a riot as Jews visited for the holiday of Sukkot. |
| Scores of officers entered the mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem at 7 a.m. on Monday and found “petrol bombs, stones, bottle rockets and fireworks” as well as “masked Palestinians,” according to the police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld. The officers shuttered the mosque with an unknown number of Palestinians inside, Mr. Rosenfeld said, as several hundred Jews and non-Muslim tourists ascended to Al Aksa compound during regular visiting hours, starting at 8 a.m. | Scores of officers entered the mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem at 7 a.m. on Monday and found “petrol bombs, stones, bottle rockets and fireworks” as well as “masked Palestinians,” according to the police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld. The officers shuttered the mosque with an unknown number of Palestinians inside, Mr. Rosenfeld said, as several hundred Jews and non-Muslim tourists ascended to Al Aksa compound during regular visiting hours, starting at 8 a.m. |
| Mr. Rosenfeld said no one was hurt or arrested. Among the visitors was Moshe Feiglin, a right-wing Israeli lawmaker, whose prior pilgrimages to the site have been a focal point for clashes. | Mr. Rosenfeld said no one was hurt or arrested. Among the visitors was Moshe Feiglin, a right-wing Israeli lawmaker, whose prior pilgrimages to the site have been a focal point for clashes. |
| The 37-acre compound is the holiest site in Judaism, and the third holiest in Islam. Jews call it the Temple Mount, Muslims the Noble Sanctuary. It has been a focus of increasing tension and violence in recent months. On Wednesday, before the weeklong Sukkot festival, three officers were hurt, and nine Palestinians were arrested in a confrontation where, Mr. Rosenfeld said, the police used stun grenades to disperse a crowd throwing stones, firebombs and other projectiles. | |
| The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said Monday during a news conference in the West Bank with the Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallah, that he was “deeply concerned by repeated provocations at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” according to a transcript distributed by his office. | The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said Monday during a news conference in the West Bank with the Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallah, that he was “deeply concerned by repeated provocations at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” according to a transcript distributed by his office. |
| “These only inflame tensions and must stop,” Mr. Ban said, referring also to Israel’s “continued settlement activity” in the West Bank. “Ultimately, the situation can only be resolved as part of a broader political horizon that ends the nearly half-century of occupation and leads towards a two-state solution where the state of Palestine coexists with Israel in peace and security.” | “These only inflame tensions and must stop,” Mr. Ban said, referring also to Israel’s “continued settlement activity” in the West Bank. “Ultimately, the situation can only be resolved as part of a broader political horizon that ends the nearly half-century of occupation and leads towards a two-state solution where the state of Palestine coexists with Israel in peace and security.” |
| Mr. Ban was scheduled to meet later on Monday in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Mr. Netanyahu convened a meeting of security officials last week to discuss the rise in violent protests in East Jerusalem throughout the summer, and he called for an increase of forces “in the confrontation areas” as well as “vigorous action” against “those who disturb the peace,” according to a statement from his office. | Mr. Ban was scheduled to meet later on Monday in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Mr. Netanyahu convened a meeting of security officials last week to discuss the rise in violent protests in East Jerusalem throughout the summer, and he called for an increase of forces “in the confrontation areas” as well as “vigorous action” against “those who disturb the peace,” according to a statement from his office. |
| The radio station Voice of Palestine reported Monday that Israeli forces used rubber bullets and tear gas inside the mosque, a description that Mr. Rosenfeld rejected, and that 38 people were hurt. The Palestine Liberation Organization denounced the police action. | The radio station Voice of Palestine reported Monday that Israeli forces used rubber bullets and tear gas inside the mosque, a description that Mr. Rosenfeld rejected, and that 38 people were hurt. The Palestine Liberation Organization denounced the police action. |
| “Allowing extremist Israeli settlers to raid Al Aksa compound protected by the Israeli police is a further proof of the belligerent agenda of the extremist Israeli government,” the P.L.O. said in a statement, referring to Mr. Feiglin, who lives in a West Bank settlement. “Such actions are part of the Israeli goal to turn Jerusalem into an exclusive Jewish city.” | “Allowing extremist Israeli settlers to raid Al Aksa compound protected by the Israeli police is a further proof of the belligerent agenda of the extremist Israeli government,” the P.L.O. said in a statement, referring to Mr. Feiglin, who lives in a West Bank settlement. “Such actions are part of the Israeli goal to turn Jerusalem into an exclusive Jewish city.” |
| Mr. Feiglin, an ultranationalist who has denied the existence of a Palestinian nationality and advocated an Israeli withdrawal from the United Nations, could not be reached Monday. | Mr. Feiglin, an ultranationalist who has denied the existence of a Palestinian nationality and advocated an Israeli withdrawal from the United Nations, could not be reached Monday. |
| Mr. Rosenfeld said that the police acted to prevent “a second round” of the violence that erupted at the site last week, and that the items officers found indicated a major action was planned. | Mr. Rosenfeld said that the police acted to prevent “a second round” of the violence that erupted at the site last week, and that the items officers found indicated a major action was planned. |
| “It was positive, it was necessary,” he said. “The police units moved in ahead of time to prevent disturbances from taking place.” | “It was positive, it was necessary,” he said. “The police units moved in ahead of time to prevent disturbances from taking place.” |