JERUSALEM: Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli security forces at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Sunday, with further trouble feared in the week ahead as Jews celebrate the Sukkot holiday.

After brief clashes on Sunday, the last day of the Muslim Eidul Azha holiday, Palestinian protesters prepared “to defend” the mosque during the eight-day Jewish festival, stocking stones inside the shrine and planning to sleep in it.

The Sukkot holiday beginning on Sunday evening is expected to lead to an increase in Jewish visitors to the Al-Aqsa compound.

In Sunday’s disturbances, young masked Palestinians “threw stones and fireworks at police and border police forces,” who responded with “riot dispersal means”, police said.

Calm returned to the compound later in the morning and most police had withdrawn. Muslims have been alarmed by an increase in visits by Jews and fear rules governing the compound will be changed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly he is committed to maintaining the status quo at the site despite the views of some hardliners within his governing coalition.

The radical northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, which represents Arab communities in Israel, had urged Muslims to go to the compound to defend it on Sunday.

Visits by Jews were stopped on Sunday and age restrictions on Muslim men entering the compound lifted for the Muslim holiday.

But recent weeks have seen a series of Jewish holidays during which there has an been an uptick in visits by Jews that have sparked repeated clashes. The same situation is feared over Sukkot.

Around 150 people at the compound sporting green Islamic Movement caps. Several Arab members of the Israeli parliament were also present.

“Al-Aqsa is a holy place, but it is also a national symbol for Palestinians and all Arabs,” said Sheikh Kamal Khabit, deputy head of the Islamic Movement.

“Jewish extremists want to destroy Al Aqsa to build a third temple”.

According to Biblical tradition, the first and second Jewish temples were located at the site and destroyed by the Babylonians and the Romans. A hardline Jewish minority has sought to build a third temple.

“We’re going to defend our mosque,” said a 21-year-old man in a tracksuit and mask with only his eyes visible as he piled stones inside the mosque with other youths after Sunday’s clashes.

“Jews want to destroy Al Aqsa, but we are here, ready to respond to settlers’ attacks”. They also barricaded the mosque’s doors with wood and other debris as they have done during previous protests.

In past raids, Israeli police have briefly entered the mosque to close the door on stone-throwing rioters inside and restore calm to the compound.

Published in Dawn, September 28th , 2015

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