Firebomb on Temple Mount sparks unrest as Israeli police close entrances to site
No injuries reported after Palestinian suspects attacked police station, leading to Jerusalem authorities limiting access to the holy site.
Israeli police have closed the entrances to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site after Palestinian suspects threw a firebomb at a police station.
There were no injuries reported from the firebombing, but police quickly deployed across the hilltop compound, scuffling with Palestinians in the area as they searched for the assailants.
Three suspects were arrested and police were seen wrestling a woman to the ground.
The incident heightened tensions at the site, which is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. The Western Wall is the last supporting wall of the Temple Mount, and is the centre for Jewish prayer from around the world.
The spot, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and gold-topped Dome of the Rock, is a frequent flashpoint of violence.
Police also restricted entrance to the Old City, home to Jerusalem’s most important religious sites, allowing only residents to pass through certain entrances to the Muslim and Christian quarters. Other entrances to the Old City remained open.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the “dangerous Israeli escalation” and warned of “serious repercussions”. In a statement, he called on the international community to intervene.
Credit: JINIPIX
The area has experienced a series of tense stand-offs in recent weeks after Muslim worshippers reopened an area known as the Gate of Mercy, closed by Israel in 2003.
The Waqf, a Jordanian-appointed body that oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, has staged periodic prayer-protests since late February to call for the reopening of the building.
Israel closed the structure claiming it was used by a heritage organisation with ties to the Hamas militant group.
The Waqf says that because the heritage group is now defunct, the council should regain full access to the building like any other in the holy esplanade.
Demonstrations have devolved into stand-offs with police in recent weeks. Israel has barred several guards and high-ranking officials from the Waqf from the compound and arrested dozens of Palestinians under suspicions of inciting violence at the site.
Officials in Jordan, which is the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, have confirmed they are in negotiations with Israel to resolve the dispute.
Mr Abbas’s office said the Palestinians are also in touch with various sides including Jordan.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
