Police remove 3 more Jewish visitors from Temple Mount

Israel Police evicted three Jewish visitors from the Temple Mount on Wednesday, as the daily removal of people from the holy site during Passover continued.

The three adults were removed from the Temple Mount for “violating the terms of the visit,” a police statement said, employing a phrase often used to describe attempts to pray at the site by Jewish visitors, who are forbidden to do so.

Under the terms of the fragile status quo in place on the Mount for decades, Jews and other non-Muslims can visit, but cannot worship there. Those who are found to be praying are removed from the site, and frequent violators can find themselves served with a restraining order keeping them from the Temple Mount altogether.

A total of 28 Jews and one Palestinian have been evicted from the site since the start of the Passover holiday last Friday, Army Radio reported.

On Tuesday, minor clashes broke out between Muslim worshipers and Israeli police on the Mount after two Jewish men were spotted as they bowed down in prayer. They were set upon by Muslims at the site and were immediately escorted away by police.

A brawl then ensued between police and the Muslim protesters. There were no reports of injuries.

Israeli security forces beefed up their presence around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount compound ahead of this week’s Passover holiday to prevent violence.

Judah Ari Gross and Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report.