From the Liveblog of
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Right-wing activists, Muslims scuffle outside Temple Mount
Police break up an altercation between members of the right-wing Zionist group Im Tirtzu and Muslim worshipers outside the Temple Mount, hours after Israel partially reopened the complex for prayer.
In a video posted to the group’s Facebook page, Im Tirtzu activists say they came to the Jerusalem holy site to support Israeli security forces stationed there, and reject reports that the bolstered security measures at the Temple Mount were keeping Muslims from praying at the site.
After the presenter says Muslims “shouldn’t care about metal detectors here,” a Palestinian man approaches the activists, angrily telling the Im Tirtzu members that he and other worshipers took issue with the new measures.
Police stationed nearby break up the scuffle.
A Times of Israel correspondent at the scene earlier said the activists had shouted “Israel is not afraid” at the entrance of the site.
The Temple Mount has been closed since Friday, when three Arab Israeli terrorists opened fire at a group of police officers, killing two of them, using guns that had apparently been stashed at the site.
— with Avi Issacharoff
