Clashes break out as Temple Mount reopens to Jews

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police broke out on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Thursday, as the site was reopened to Jews and other non-Muslim visitors following the end of the two-week Ramadan closure, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

The site of the Biblical temple Western Wall and the Al Aqsa mosque, the Temple Mount is the holiest site for Jews and the third holiest site for Muslims. Under a status quo agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, non-Muslims can only visit the Temple Mount site at specific dates and times.

The Temple Mount had been closed to non-Muslims from April 21, after clashes erupted on April 15, when Friday prayers for Ramadan, Passover and Good Friday all coincided, TOI reports.

As of 7 am on Thursday, Jews were again allowed to visit the site, and tensions again boiled over as visitors lined up at the Mughrabi Bridge waiting to enter, TOI said. The visitors included MK Yomtob Kalfon from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party.

According to Israeli police, Palestinians chanted “incitement” and threw rocks at officers, one of whom was injured, TOI said. A video from the Temple Mount also showed Palestinians shouting in Arabic “with spirit, with blood, we’ll redeem Al-Aqsa!” as Jewish visitors passed by them.

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