2012, 10-5 Arabs assault Temple Mount guards

1. The Times of Israel

Hundreds of Arabs assault guards at Temple Mount

Police forces charge through Mughrabi Gate to control angry mob

By YOEL GOLDMAN and GABE FISHER October 5, 2012, 1:02 pm

Following the conclusion of Friday prayers at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, hundreds of Arabs threw stones at security guards in the area. Police charged through the Mughrabi Gate in the Old City and fired stun grenades to disperse the angry mob.

Unconfirmed Palestinian reports suggested that several people were lightly injured.

Police officials, having restored calm, said that they would arrest some of the stone throwers in the coming days.

Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites of Israel Shmuel Rabinovitch expressed shock following Friday’s violent demonstration, assessing that it was meant to prevent Jewish worshippers from praying in the area during Sukkot. He said that it was up to the police to arrest those who “wish to harm the delicate fabric of the holy sites in the Old City, and to harass worshippers.” Rabbi Rabinovitch called on the public to continue observing the holiday at the Western Wall.

On Thursday, a confrontation at the Temple Mount plaza led to six arrests as a group of Muslim worshipers threatened Jewish visitors to the site. According to a police spokesperson, about 30 Muslims began chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) and tried to attack a group of Jews who were visiting the site. Police broke up the altercation, and arrested five Arabs and one Jew.

Jordanian Information Minister Samih Maaytah condemned the police’s entry to the Temple Mount. He blamed the police for charging at the unarmed worshippers, and said that the police’s policy harms the Muslim and Christian holy places.

The Temple Mount, holy to both Jews and Muslims, is closely monitored in order to defuse potential tensions between Muslim worshipers and Jewish and international visitors.

The plaza is under the management of the Islamic Wakf, with Israeli police responsible for security. Under Israeli rules aimed at keeping the peace at the volatile site, Jews are allowed to visit but not to worship there.

On Tuesday, Likud activist Moshe Feiglin was arrested for allegedly violating rules regarding Jewish prayer at the site.

Source: http://www.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-of-arabs-assault-guards-at-temple-mount/

2. The New York Times

By JODI RUDOREN Published: October 5, 2012

New Clashes at Site in Jerusalem Holy to Both Muslims and Jews

JERUSALEM — Two Israeli police officers were slightly injured in a clash at a holy site in Jerusalem that erupted during a demonstration after Friday Prayer, and one Arab protester was arrested.

The protest occurred several days after a Jewish hard-liner was accused of breaking the ban against Jews praying at the fiercely contested site, called the Temple Mount by Jews and the Noble Sanctuary by Muslims.

Hundreds of Muslims emerged from Al Aksa Mosque on Friday chanting slogans against Jewish extremists and throwing stones at police officers, according to witnesses and the authorities. Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said officers “dispersed the rioters with stun grenades,” though journalists on the scene said tear gas was also deployed.

Mr. Rosenfeld said that one man, an Arab citizen of Israel, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to stab a police officer, and that the police expected to make further “arrests in the coming days of those who were involved in the disturbances.”

Religious Jews revere the site as the location of their ancient temples; for Muslims, it is the third holiest site in the world. The second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, was set off in 2000 by a visit to the site by Ariel Sharon, then the Likud Party leader.

Since Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 war, the compound has been operated by the Waqf, the Muslim religious endowment, with security provided by Israel. Jews are allowed to visit the site, except on Fridays, but not to pray there.

The friction on Friday appears to have been tied a visit there on Tuesday by about 500 Jews. During that visit, Moshe Feiglin, a right-wing activist who frequently visits the site, was arrested after he laid on the ground, against police orders, Mr. Rosenfeld said.

On Wednesday, five Israeli Arabs were arrested on suspicion of attempting to attack visiting Jews, Mr. Rosenfeld said; one Jew was also arrested that day for not following police orders to leave as the Arabs approached.

Khaled Abu Aker and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.

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