JERUSALEM— Israeli police briefly clashed with Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site early Sunday, raising tensions in the holy city ahead of the Jewish New Year.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said forces moved into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound at around 7 a.m. Sunday after police received reports that protesters were planning to disrupt visits to the area by Jewish worshippers and tourists.
He said the protesters barricaded themselves inside the mosque and threw rocks and firecrackers at police. He said police did not enter the mosque, but removed barricades around the building. Suspected pipe bombs were found at the entrance to the mosque, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said.
Police released video showing lit firecrackers and other objects thrown by Palestinians inside the mosque at the officers on the outside with some firecrackers exploding within the holy site.
There were no reports of arrests or injuries. The site was closed for three hours during the standoff but then re-opened for visitors.
Local video footage shows a Jewish man wearing a traditional prayer shawl attacked as he passed through an alleyway close by in the old city. It shows attackers throwing water bottles at him and then tripping him up and kicking him. Police said Muslim women protesting nearby had thrown objects at him and then “passing Arabs” beat him.
