Clashes near Kalandia
Photo: AFP
Report: Palestinian severely wounded in east Jerusalem clashes
Protesters throw rocks, fireworks at police forces in Al-Tur; Palestinians say three wounded in riots.
A Palestinian youth was severely wounded in his head Saturday night during clashes between Palestinians and a police force in al-Tur, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem. He was evacuated to Al-Makassed Hospital.
Police reported rocks and fireworks were thrown at its forces in the area. Earlier in the night, rocks were hurled at the light rail in Shuafat. There were no injuries but the railcar was damaged.
Border Patrol officers during Kalandia clashes (Photo: AP)
However, Palestinian sources put the number of casualties in Al-Tur at three, saying one person was taken to hospital after being hit in the head.
The Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City, a site holy to both Jews and Muslims, has been the focus of months of unrest that recently spread to the West Bank and Arab communities across Israel and raised fears of a new intifada.
Palestinians have been infuriated by a far-right religious campaign for Jewish prayer rights at Al-Aqsa that threatens an ultra-sensitive, decades-old status quo that allows only Muslims to pray there.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated in a Thursday meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Jordanian King Abdullah II that status quo, which allows Jews to visit but not pray, would not change.
On Friday, as part of a deal reached at the meeting in Amman, Israel lifted restrictions on Muslims praying at the mosque.
For the first time in months, men of all ages were allowed entry for the weekly Muslim prayers at Al-Aqsa. The Friday prayers were held there this week without incident.
Elior Levy and AFO contributed to this report.
