Clashes As Israeli Soldiers Enter Al-Aqsa Mosque

Clashes have erupted after a number of Israeli soldiers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, police and witnesses said

The Israeli security personnel used tear gas as they entered the compound to arrest what they called Palestinian "stone throwers".

"Masked protesters who were inside the mosque threw stones and fireworks at police," said a police statement carried by AFP news agency.

A Muslim witness accused police of entering the mosque and causing damage, saying prayer mats were partially burned.

Clashes later continued outside the mosque complex, with police firing tear gas and stun grenades.

Israeli security forces closed the mosque's compound to worshippers following the clashes that come just hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for Israeli police, said that the Israeli police received intelligence in the morning about the possible disturbances at Al-Aqsa mosque that would involve explosive devices as well as stones thrown at Jewish visitors.

"…our police officers entered the area, I am talking about the Temple Mount area only, and shut the front doors of the Al-Aqsa mosque to prevent those riots from overflowing onto the Temple Mount area.

"Our police units took the situation under control from 20 to 25 minutes only using stun grenades, non-lethal weapons only to make sure that situation remained calm."

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas condemned what he called an "attack" by Israeli authorities.

"The presidency strongly condemns the attack by the occupier's military and police against the Al-Aqsa mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there," a statement from his office said.

The disturbances came with tensions running high after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week banned two Muslim groups from entering the mosque compound - Islam's third holiest site.

Israel seized East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, in the Six Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognised by the international community.

Source:Aljazeerah

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