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Clashes Damage Al Aqsa Mosque at Jerusalem, and Jordan Warns Israel Clashes Damage Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and Jordan Warns Israel
(2 days later)
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian youths and the Israeli police clashed again Tuesday at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and King Abdullah II of Jordan issued a rare warning to Israel that the fighting could weaken relations between the two countries. RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian youths and the Israeli police clashed again Tuesday at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, and King Abdullah II of Jordan issued a rare warning to Israel that the fighting could weaken relations between the two countries.
Concerns are growing that the clashes over Jewish visits to the contested holy site, which began on the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, could set off wider violence.Concerns are growing that the clashes over Jewish visits to the contested holy site, which began on the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, could set off wider violence.
In a call on Tuesday morning to King Abdullah, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the king “expressed concern” about the violence, and Mr. Biden urged “all parties to exercise restraint” and “refrain from provocative actions,” the White House said in a statement.In a call on Tuesday morning to King Abdullah, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the king “expressed concern” about the violence, and Mr. Biden urged “all parties to exercise restraint” and “refrain from provocative actions,” the White House said in a statement.
In Tuesday’s fighting, Palestinian youths, some masked, took up positions in Al Aqsa Mosque, where they had built barricades from wood and iron rods, and from the closets where worshipers leave their shoes before entering the holy site, said Luba Samri, an Israeli police spokeswoman. In Tuesday’s fighting, Palestinian youths, some masked, took up positions inside the eighth-century Al Aqsa Mosque on the holy site, where they had built barricades from wood and iron rods, and from the closets where worshipers leave their shoes before entering, said Luba Samri, an Israeli police spokeswoman. The site is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
Omar Kiswani, the director of Al Aqsa Mosque compound, said centuries-old woodwork, windows and doors had been damaged in the violence. “We are making calls for intervention,” Mr. Kiswani said. “We hope these problems won’t continue. We want quiet, to preserve the lives of the worshipers.” Omar Kiswani, the director of the compound, said centuries-old woodwork, windows and doors had been damaged in the violence. “We are making calls for intervention,” Mr. Kiswani said. “We hope these problems won’t continue. We want quiet, to preserve the lives of the worshipers.”
The youths pelted police officers, who used sound grenades in an effort to quell the demonstrators. A small fire erupted on some of the wooden panels being used as barricades.The youths pelted police officers, who used sound grenades in an effort to quell the demonstrators. A small fire erupted on some of the wooden panels being used as barricades.
Ms. Samri said the blaze was ignited by Palestinians who threw firecrackers. But a mosque official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared arrest, said Israeli forces were to blame because they fired stun grenades that burned holes in the mosque’s carpet and probably ignited a wooden panel.Ms. Samri said the blaze was ignited by Palestinians who threw firecrackers. But a mosque official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared arrest, said Israeli forces were to blame because they fired stun grenades that burned holes in the mosque’s carpet and probably ignited a wooden panel.
After the clashes, Jewish visitors and foreign tourists were allowed into the holy site, Ms. Samri said. The clashes began Sunday when the police sought to secure the area, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. After the clashes, Jewish visitors and foreign tourists were allowed into the holy site, Ms. Samri said. The clashes began Sunday when the police sought to secure the area.
Late Tuesday, King Abdullah, Israel’s steadiest ally in the region, said he was “concerned and angered” by clashes at the eighth-century mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, over the Jewish holidays. “If this continues to happen, actually as of today, any more provocations in Jerusalem will affect the relationship between Jordan and Israel,” King Abdullah said, according to a transcript issued to reporters before a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain. “Jordan will have no choice but to take action, unfortunately.” Late Tuesday, King Abdullah, Israel’s steadiest ally in the region, said he was “concerned and angered” by the clashes at the site, the third-holiest in Islam and the holiest in Judaism. “Any more provocations in Jerusalem will affect the relationship between Jordan and Israel,” said King Abdullah, according to a transcript issued to reporters before a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain. “Jordan will have no choice but to take action, unfortunately.”
Jordan recalled its ambassador, Walid Obeidat, last fall after Israel closed the compound for a day during a similar period of tensions. Mr. Obeidat did not return until February.Jordan recalled its ambassador, Walid Obeidat, last fall after Israel closed the compound for a day during a similar period of tensions. Mr. Obeidat did not return until February.
Fighting also took place in July, when Jews held an annual day of fasting to commemorate the destruction of two ancient temples believed to have once stood at the holy site. Fighting also took place in July, when Jews held an annual day of fasting to commemorate the destruction of two ancient temples revered by Jews as having once stood at the holy site.
The clashes have been prompted partly by Palestinian fears that Jews were visiting the compound as part of an Israeli plan to assert sovereignty over the site or to divide it. Non-Muslim prayer is banned at the site, and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he has no intention of changing that, most recently on Tuesday evening. The clashes have been prompted partly by Palestinian fears that Jews were visiting the compound as part of an Israeli plan to assert sovereignty over the site or to divide it. Non-Muslim prayer is banned at the site, and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has repeatedly said he has no intention of changing that, most recently on Tuesday evening.
But Palestinians have grown more fearful of Israeli intentions in recent weeks, after Israel outlawed an organization of Muslim women who shout at Jewish visitors at the holy site. The government accused the organization, along with an affiliated group of men, of inciting violence. Palestinians say they are defending the sanctity of the site.But Palestinians have grown more fearful of Israeli intentions in recent weeks, after Israel outlawed an organization of Muslim women who shout at Jewish visitors at the holy site. The government accused the organization, along with an affiliated group of men, of inciting violence. Palestinians say they are defending the sanctity of the site.
Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said official mosque guards had not been allowed into the compound during the clashes — the first time, he said, that this had occurred.Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said official mosque guards had not been allowed into the compound during the clashes — the first time, he said, that this had occurred.
“Such serious provocations have the potential to ignite violence well beyond the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem,” Mr. Mladenov said in a statement issued after the clashes ended.“Such serious provocations have the potential to ignite violence well beyond the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem,” Mr. Mladenov said in a statement issued after the clashes ended.
Late Tuesday evening, Mr. Netanyahu said his government would examine “changing open-fire orders” and consider “setting minimum sentences for these offenses and imposing heavy fines on minors — and their parents — who commit these offenses.” He did not offer further details. The remarks reflected a statement made earlier this month.Late Tuesday evening, Mr. Netanyahu said his government would examine “changing open-fire orders” and consider “setting minimum sentences for these offenses and imposing heavy fines on minors — and their parents — who commit these offenses.” He did not offer further details. The remarks reflected a statement made earlier this month.
Mr. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would maintain what is known as the “status quo” on the contested Jerusalem holy site. He added that “rioters would not be allowed to prevent Jews from visiting the Temple Mount.” Mr. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would maintain what is known as the “status quo” on the contested Jerusalem holy site. He added, “Rioters will not be allowed to prevent Jews from visiting the Temple Mount.”