Two soldiers wounded by rock throwers near Hebron
Rioting and Molotov cocktail attacks reported near Jerusalem, areas south of the capital
Two soldiers were wounded Wednesday evening when they were hit by rocks during a riot in Beit Ummar, near the West Bank town of Hebron.
The two were treated by military medics at the scene for light-to-moderate injuries, Channel 2 reported. They were later evacuated to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center for further treatment.
Rioting was reported in several locations in the Hebron and Jerusalem areas. Troops reported rock throwing as well as the use of firebombs by demonstrators.
Violent demonstrations have been common in the West Bank and Jerusalem in recent days as tensions have flared around the Temple Mount.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday accused Israel of seeking to create a new status quo at the site by allowing Jewish visitors into the compound, and said continued provocations could spark an “implosion” of religious conflict.
On Wednesday morning, thousands of policemen guarded Jewish worshipers as they gathered at the Western Wall for the traditional priestly blessing performed during the Sukkot holiday. At least 150,000 Jewish worshipers took part in the ceremony.
Security forces were on high alert in an attempt to prevent further unrest in the area.
Three Muslim women were arrested for attacking police officers — two on the Temple Mount and one in the Old City’s Muslim Quarter — and four Jewish men were removed from the Mount after disobeying police instructions.
Jews are forbidden from praying at the site but can visit under police protection.