BICOM

Israel is preparing for more violence on the Temple Mount as tensions persisted despite Muslim leaders ending their protest over Israeli security measures.

Checkpoints have been set up on the roads leading to Jerusalem and three Border Police forces deployed as reinforcements amid expectations of possible violent protests following midday Friday prayers. The Old City basin and Sultan Suleiman Street will be closed.

A police spokeswoman said early Friday morning that following a security assessment, Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevi decided to restrict access to the Old City and the Temple Mount to women as well as men above the age of 50.

Police have called on Muslim leaders and public figures to denounce incitement and violence, and to act responsibly to calm the situation, after thousands of Palestinian worshippers streamed into the mosque on the Temple Mount for afternoon prayers yesterday.

Palestinians reportedly flew the Palestinian flag from the mosque and threw rocks and bottles at Israeli forces, with some projectiles flying onto the Western Wall plaza below.

After the violence subsided dozens of young worshippers barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and refused to leave, despite requests from the Waqf. Police were forced to break into the Mosque to arrest them for disturbing the peace.

At least 50 Palestinians were reportedly injured in yesterday’s violence, whilst Israeli Channel 2 reported that ten police officers were also injured.

PLO executive committee member Wasel Abu Yusuf said the behaviour of the Israeli police yesterday was “very dangerous,” saying that “tomorrow is Friday prayers, and today the leadership called on people to come and pray at al-Aqsa”.

Earlier in the day Waqf officials affirmed that all the security measures established by Israel after the 14 July attack, in which two Israeli policemen were killed, had been removed.