Friday prayers end peacefully; soldier hurt in rally

Palestinians report security forces used live ammunition against protestors in village west of Ramallah, injuring one man; army says unaware of claims. In Jerusalem, 6,000 worshippers attends Friday prayers after police restrict entry; security forces remain on heightened state of alert for fear of renewed riots

Yair Altman|Published: 09.24.10 , 15:05

The Temple Mount prayers ended peacefully Friday afternoon after the police restricted the entry of male worshippers under the age of 50. Some 6,000 worshippers attended the prayers.

Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen ordered the security forces to remain on a heightened state of alert in Jerusalem in the coming days.

Following an evaluation of the situation, Cohen said that "the police will continue to provide the hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors flocking to the capital with personal and maximal security."

Heightened state of alert to continue in Jerusalem (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)

Massive police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent the resumption of riots which broke out on Wednesday after a Silwan resident was shot to death by a Jewish security guard in the east Jerusalem neighborhood.

The police chief added that intelligence and investigative efforts would be put into dealing with the rioters and called on leaders of the Arab public to "influence the extremists and call for moderation legal protests only."

The crowds of worshippers in Silwan were dispersed without any disturbances. Source in the village reported that the police had reached an understanding with the families controlling the village and that riots were not expected to take place in the coming hours.

Meanwhile, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly injured in an anti-fence protest in the Palestinian village of Nabi Salih, northwest of Ramallah. He was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.

In the village of Naalin, west of Ramallah, some 40 Palestinians and Israeli and foreign left-wing activists clashed with the security forces. According to Palestinian reports, a protester was lightly hurt from live ammunition used to disperse the anti-fence rally.

The IDF said in response that it was unaware of claims that live ammunition had been used during the protest and did not know of any Palestinians injuries.