Police, prayer-goers clash near Temple Mount; injuries reported

A police spokesman said that the police are carrying out security measures in and around the Old City to prevent and respond to any incidents.

By UDI SHAHAM, JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: JULY 18, 2017 00:02
A Palestinian argues with an Israeli border police officer during scuffles that erupted after Palestinians held prayers just outside Jerusalem's Old City in protest over the installation of metal detectors placed at an entrance to the Temple Mount, July 17, 2017. (photo credit: REUTERS)
A Palestinian argues with an Israeli border police officer during scuffles that erupted after Palestinians held prayers just outside Jerusalem's Old City in protest over the installation of metal detectors placed at an entrance to the Temple Mount, July 17, 2017.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Clashes broke out between police and Palestinian rioters near Jerusalem's Lions Gate, near the Temple Mount, on Monday evening.
According to different reports, several rioters were injured.
During the riots, stones and object were thrown at the police forces.
A police spokesman said that the police are carrying out security measures in and around the Old City to prevent and respond to any incidents. Earlier on Tuesday the police cleared the area to open the road that was blocked by the protesters.
In the neighborhood of Silwan next to the Old City police units dispersed rioters who fired fireworks directly at them.
According to a police statement, the police units used non-lethal weapons and continued to patrol the area.
At the entrance of the neighborhood of Isawiah in northern Jerusalem, a number of masked suspects threw petrol bombs and fired fireworks at police units patrolling the area.
Camal Ryan, head of the al-Aksa NGO told The Jerusalem Post that the events are an obvious answer to the new measures.
"Israel is trying to change the status quo by installing these new metal detectors," he said. "We warned that it would lead to an escalation. The responsibility lies in Netanyahu's hands, he is the captain of this ship," said Ryan.
On Monday, for the second consecutive day, Muslim worshipers continued their protest against the newly installed metal detectors at entrances to the Temple Mount and avoided entering the compound. As part of the protests, the worshipers conducted prayers outside the gates and called on the police and the Israeli government to reverse the measures.
A couple hundred worshipers came to the Lion’s Gate at approximately 12:45 p.m. to participate in the noon prayer. Police stood nearby as the worshipers prostrated themselves onto mats and pieces of cardboard.
Following the prayers, the worshipers chanted against the new measure called for the liberation of the al-Aksa mosque.
PLO executive committee member Mustafa Barghouti, who attended the prayer at the Lions Gate, said that despite restrictions, Palestinians will find ways to enter the Temple Mount compound and bypass the new metal detectors.
“We have been under occupation for 50 years, and we will not ‘get used’ to the new injustice,” Barghouti told The Jerusalem Post. “People will try entering in every possible way without going through the electronic devices,” he added.
Barghouti pointed his finger toward the Israeli government as the source to these tensions, and added that the have just waited to get an excuse to install the metal detectors at the gate.
“These measures were pre-planned,” he said. “Nobody is convinced that due to the incident these measures were taken."