Jerusalem police on high alert for Friday prayers; three arrested
Entry to Temple Mount restricted; police brace for revenge attacks by extremist Jews following Wednesday terror attack.
After days of violence across the city, police and emergency personnel went on a level of high alert in Jerusalem for the weekend, anticipating in particular fresh clashes after the Muslim Friday prayers. Three people were arrested in East Jerusalem on Friday afternoon for attacks on police forces.
Large forces were present Friday morning in the Old City and around pressure points such as Issawiya, French Hill and Silwan. The entrance to the Temple Mount was restricted to male worshipers aged 40 or over, and women of all ages.
In Wadi Joz, in East Jerusalem, three people were arrested for throwing stones and fireworks at police forces in the area. No one was hut in the attacks.
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Police were also preparing for the possibility that extremist Jews would try to take revenge against Arabs following Wednesday's attack at Ammunition Hill train station by a Palestinian terrorist, which killed three-month-old Chaya Zissel Braun.
"Following intelligence received by the Jerusalem District Police" of plans by young Arabs to disturb the peace at the end of prayers on the Temple Mount, district commander Major General Moshe Edri decided following a situation assessment Thursday night to restrict entry to the Temple Mount for Friday prayers.
"Police and Border Guard forces will deploy from the early morning hours in East Jerusalem and the Old City in an attempt to prevent rioting. The police will operate decisively and show zero tolerance to anyone who tries to break the peace," said the police in a statement Thursday night.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said several hundred extra police personnel had been deployed in flashpoint areas, mostly Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. He said the reinforcements included riot-control troops and Border Police.
Also, he said, new intelligence gathering facilities including small surveillance balloons are being deployed. He called the buildup a "strategic decision" connected to the overall situation, not a response to Wednesday's killing.
Meanwhile, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told the Associated Press on Thursday the violence has become intolerable, and vowed to restore order.
"Yesterday what we saw is another higher level, of people running over a 3-month-old baby," he said. "We must fight violence and we will win that war."
