WEST BANK/GAZA/JERUSALEM: Israeli security forces clash with Muslim protesters in Jerusalem and West Bank

Muslim protesters have clashed with Israeli police and soldiers in Jerusalem and across the West Bank. In Gaza City, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told worshippers at a mosque that a priority of the new Palestinian unity government will be "protecting Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque." Israeli police clashed with Muslim protesters outside the Old City of Jerusalem on Friday (February 16) while army troops clashed with Palestinians in the West Bank in a day of protests over Israel's excavation near a holy Muslim shrine. Scores of Muslims who were not allowed to enter the Old City gathered outside its walls to protest Israel's building works near Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine. Police forces fired stun grenades and used water cannons to disperse the crowd of protesters. A police spokesman said the police acted against protesters who threw rocks at the forces. Israel stepped up security in and around the Old City of Jerusalem ahead of Friday prayers which usually attract thousands of worshippers into the compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount. About 3,000 policemen were deployed in the Old City and East Jerusalem. Muslim worshippers under the age of 50 were not allowed near the religious compound. A police spokesman said about 6,000 worshippers attended Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa compound and dispersed quietly without any disturbances. Police arrested 15 Muslims who were trying to enter areas police had blocked off. Israel's excavation and construction work also sparked violent protests in the West Bank. Dozens of Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers clashed in Qalandiya refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Ramallah in the West Bank. Two Israeli soldiers were shot and lightly wounded during the clashes, the Israeli army said. In the West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli Army forces fired gas canisters into crowds in an effort to disrupt protests. A photographer from the Associated Press was injured. Dozens of young Palestinian men and boys launched rocks at the soldiers. Some used sling-shots. Israeli soldiers returned fire using their weapons. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who is to form a new unity government, told Muslim worshippers in Gaza City that the new cabinet would exert efforts to protect holy Muslim places. "I think that the priority of this government will be presented would be introduced by theses points: first priority would be protecting Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa mosque," Haniyeh said during a sermon at a Gaza mosque.

ITN Source | February 17, 2007

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