JERUSALEM: Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem’s holiest shrine on Sunday, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in an eruption of violence at the most critical spot in the Holy Land.

A wall of Israeli riot police closed in on the crowd, sending many protesters — overwhelmingly young men — running for cover into the black-domed Al Aqsa mosque.

Dozens of protesters remained holed up inside the mosque for several hours, occasionally opening shuttered doors to throw objects at police.

The protesters eventually left peacefully and the compound was closed. There were no serious injuries.

Israel’s police chief David Cohen accused a small group of Muslim men of trying to foment violence.

Religious and nationalist sentiment connected with the site have made it a flashpoint for violence in the past. A visit in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then an Israeli opposition leader, helped ignite deadly clashes that escalated into violence that engulfed Israel and the Palestinian territories for several years. Mr Sharon was subsequently elected prime minister.

Sunday’s clashes were the most intense in the past month of unrest around the compound. Frictions in recent weeks have stemmed largely from rumours among Palestinians about Israeli plans to allow Jews to pray at the site or to dig under the compound and harm the Muslim buildings there. Israel has carried out numerous archaeological digs in nearby areas.

Red line:

In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority condemned the Israeli police action. ‘Jerusalem is a red line that Israel should not cross,’ said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas.

Muslim leaders had urged their followers to gather at the compound early on Sunday in response to what they said was a planned ‘Jewish conquest’.

Israeli police said the protesters hurled a fire bomb and poured oil on the ground to make the forces slip. Around midday, small groups of youths were seen darting in and out of nearby alleyways in Jerusalem’s Old City, throwing stones and bottles at police, who responded with more stun grenades.

A total of 25 protesters suffered light to moderate injuries after being struck by batons or inhaling gas, said Ameen Abu Ghazaleh, head of the Palestinian Red Crescent’s ambulance service.

An Australian journalist covering the clash was also injured, Israeli police said. Nine police personnel were also lightly wounded and 18 protesters were detained, police said. The Palestinian president’s adviser on Jerusalem affairs, and a leader from Israel’s Islamic Movement were arrested for alleged incitement, police said.

The site has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, but is administered by a Muslim religious body known as the Waqf. The compound is opened for several hours a day to allow tourists and Jews to visit, though only Muslims are allowed to pray there.

The Palestinians seek to make east Jerusalem, including the holy compound, the capital of a future independent state.

Condemnation:

Israel’s crackdown drew condemnations from throughout the Muslim world. The head of the Organisation of Islamic Conference warned that any provocative act at Al Aqsa ‘would bear grave consequences,’ while the Arab League called on the UN to ‘stop the Israeli aggressions.’

OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in a statement ‘frequent’ Israeli breaches of Al Haram Al Sharif ‘are very dangerous and could lead to a negative outcome.’

He called on the global Muslim community to take a stand to defend holy sites, and warned that any damage to the mosque could have ‘unpredictable consequences’ on international peace and security.

Egypt said it had instructed its ambassador in Israel to urge the government to refrain from actions with ‘negative repercussions’ for the region. — Agencies.