Riots in Jerusalem
Photo: Reuters
The Jerusalem Juvenile Court on Sunday released five Arab teens arrested for allegedly planning to assault police officers during the latest Temple Mount riots.
The judge criticized the police for arresting the five despite "a clear lack of evidence."
Unrest
Efrat Weiss
Capital's police on high state of alert in holy site. Forces enter compound in pursuit of rioters, at least 18 people arrested, including Fatah official and Islamic Movement leader. Nine police officers lightly hurt; Palestinians say eight worshippers injured
The police argued that the teens intended to join rioters set to storm the compound following recent calls by far-Right elements to Jews, to rally there.
The officer representing the force asked the court to charge all five with conspiracy to commit a crime, but later had to admit that none of the teenagers violated the law prior to their arrest.
The judge decided to accept the defense's claims that the while the five arrived at the compound following a call to Muslims to come to al-Aqsa Mosque, they arrived there as worshipers and had no intention of rioting.
The judge dismissed the case and ordered the five be released on bail. Nevertheless, the court barred them from Temple Mount and the area surrounding the compound for 30 days.
Sunday's riots in Jerusalem's Temple Mount compound resulted in 21 arrests.