Clashes have erupted after a number of Israeli soldiers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, police and witnesses said. Aljazeera reports:
The Israeli security personnel used tear gas as they entered the compound to arrest what they called Palestinian “stone throwers”.
Omar Kiswani, the manager of Al-Aqsa Mosque, told Al Jazeera that 80 “Jewish settlers” protected by the Israeli police, attacked the mosque when confronted by Palestinian volunteer guards.
A statement issued by the Israeli police said that “masked protesters who were inside the mosque threw stones and fireworks at police”.
A Muslim witness accused police of entering the mosque and causing damage, saying prayer mats were partially burned. Clashes later continued outside the mosque complex, with police firing tear gas and stun grenades.
Israeli security forces closed the mosque’s compound to worshippers following the clashes that come just hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called an “attack” by Israeli authorities.
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