Jerusalem has seen days of clashes, prompting the Israeli move
Israel
has deployed hundreds of extra police to Jerusalem after days of
clashes between Palestinian protesters and security forces.
Much of the tension has focused on the al-Aqsa mosque compound, a hugely important site in Islam and Judaism.
The militant Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas had called for a "day of rage" over al-Aqsa.
Palestinians have also been angered by Israeli plans that could allow police to open fire on stone-throwers.
An Israeli motorist died earlier in the week in an accident apparently caused by a rock-throwing attack in Jerusalem.
Several security incidents were reported on Friday:
- At least two rockets were fired into Israel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza, with one damaging a bus
- Israel responded with overnight air strikes on training camps belonging to Hamas in Gaza
- In East Jerusalem, police said three border guards were injured by a fire bomb thrown at their vehicle
- Also in East Jerusalem, a bus was attacked with stones and set ablaze
- There were clashes in several places
in the occupied West Bank, with the Red Crescent saying seven
Palestinians suffered injuries from live fire
- Thousands of Jordanians held a solidarity march in Amman
The al-Aqsa mosque compound itself was reported to be quiet on
Friday. Israeli police set up checkpoints outside the site, limiting the
age of worshippers to 40 and above for men.
The compound - known
to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif - is
the holiest site in Judaism, and contains the al-Aqsa Mosque - the third
holiest site in Islam.
Tensions
have been running high in Jerusalem since Israel banned two Muslim
groups which confront Jewish visitors to the compound.
Youths hurled rocks at Israeli border police
Several arrests were made
Some protesters burnt the Israeli flag
Hamas also held protests in the Gaza Strip
Title : Israel steps up Jerusalem security after Palestinian clashes
Description : From the section Middle East ...
