New clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Israeli police and Palestinians clashed on Sunday at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound, where violence in recent weeks has raised worldwide concern.

The clashes have coincided with a series of Jewish religious holidays, which often see an increase in the number of Jews visiting.

In Sunday’s disturbances, young masked Palestinians “threw stones and fireworks at police and border forces”, who responded with “riot dispersal means”, Israeli forces said.

In past raids, Israeli police have briefly entered the mosque to close the door on stone-throwing rioters inside and restore calm to the compound.

The unrest occurred on the first day of Sukkot, a weeklong festival that celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the wandering of the ancient Israelites through the desert following the exodus from Egypt.

Tensions have been running high in Jerusalem since Israel Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon earlier this month banned two Muslim groups which confront Jewish visitors to the compound.

Israel insists that it is committed to maintaining the status quo.

He called on the Arab and Muslim nations to put the issue of Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause on top of their agendas during this “sensitive stage”.

“Jewish extremists want to destroy Al Aqsa to build a third temple”. Jews may also visit during limited hours, but are prohibited from praying or doing a range of things – kneeling, bowing, even crying – that resemble worship.

Israeli police arrested seven Palestinians on Tuesday over suspected involvement in violence at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount the previous day.

Three days later, Israeli police raided the Mount on the eve of the Jewish New Year, uncovering a stockpile of pipe bombs, firebombs and rocks that they feared would be aimed at Jewish worshippers.

Arab Knesset leader Ayman Odeh said to “counter Israeli plots to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews”, Israeli Arab citizens intend coming to the compound en masse.

Muslims fear Israel will seek to change rules governing the compound, which is located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

It also called for lifting of the ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip, and stressed the need for the immediate halt to all settlement activities which confirmed that Israel is not serious about achieving peace process.

Israeli forces fire tear gas toward Palestinian protesters during a demonstration against the separation barrier in the occupied West Bank village of Beit Jala, near al-Quds (Jerusalem), August 23, 2015.

Since September 13, Palestinians and Israeli security forces clashed at the mosque as the Zionist regime prevented Muslim worshipers from entering it, but at the same time provided heavy security to radical settlers intending to go inside the mosque.