Police are preparing for possible riots in Jerusalem on Friday after violent
protests and unrest swept across the Arab world this week in response to the
inflammatory Innocence of Muslims video.
Border Police and other patrol
units will fan out across the Old City ahead of traditional Friday
prayers.
“We hope there will be no public disturbances but police will
respond to them,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on
Thursday.
Police have not announced restricted access to the Temple Mount
ahead of the expected protests. Often if serious rioting is anticipated only men
over age 40 are allowed to enter.
In a rare move, the US State Department
also issued a travel warning for Jerusalem, urging American citizens to “defer
nonessential travel and exercise caution.”