Israel arrests 7 suspects over Temple Mount violence

Palestinians allegedly barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque and threw rocks, firebombs at police

Israeli police arrested seven Palestinians on Tuesday over suspected involvement in violence at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount the previous day.

Spokeswoman Luba Samri said the suspects were connected to Monday’s riots in which Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa Mosque and then threw firebombs and rocks at officers outside during a major Jewish holiday.

Monday’s unrest was the second straight day of violence at the Al-Aqsa mosque, where Palestinians have been stockpiling rocks and other projectiles to attack Israeli troops, according to police.

It comes during the weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot that celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the wandering of the ancient Israelites through the desert following their exodus from Egypt. In ancient times, Jews made pilgrimages to Jerusalem on Sukkot, and many Jews are expected to visit the city throughout the holiday period.

The site remained quiet Tuesday but some violent protests broke out elsewhere. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, about 200 protesters affiliated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party marched toward an Israeli checkpoint where they attacked troops with rocks. The Israeli forces dispersed the protest with tear gas and rubber bullets, injuring five lightly.

Clashes between troops and Palestinians took place in Bethlehem as well, and in Hebron, a Japanese tourist was injured after being hit by a rock thrown by a Palestinian.

Another tourist was lightly injured when a taxi he was riding in was hit by a rock in East Jerusalem.

A total of 20 people, Jews and Arabs, were arrested across the city amid ongoing violence Tuesday, Haaretz reported. A Jewish teen was arrested after spraying tear gas at a Palestinian woman who shouted “Allah Akbar” in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, the paper reported.

The Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem’s Old City is a frequent flashpoint and its fate is a core issue at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It’s known to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary, where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.