Temple Mount: Arabs throw firebombs at police
Rioters hurl firebombs at officers storming Old City compound through Mughrabi Gate; police officers, demonstrators and journalist lightly hurt. Palestinians say settlers slaughtered cattle
Jerusalem Police forces on Friday stormed the Temple Mount compound through the Old City's Mughrabi Gate after Arabs threw stones in their direction. The officers dispersed the rioters using stun grenades.
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Nine police officers and a number demonstrators were lightly injured in the clashes. Police said calm was restored to the compound at around 1:30 pm and that forces were positioned around the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Police arrested four rioters.
A journalist who was lightly injured during the violence was evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for treatment.
Police enter Mughrabi Gate (Photo: Adam Ze'evi)
During the riot two Molotov cocktails were hurled, lightly injuring one of the officers, who was treated at the scene.
Temple Mount, Friday (Photo: AFP)
Friday morning saw clashes erupt between Jewish settlers from the Adei Ad outpost and Palestinians from the village of Mrair in the northern West Bank. The settlers claimed Palestinians from the village had stolen one of their herds during the night. They entered the village and clashed with the locals, until Border Guard officers arrived at the scene and restored order.
Meanwhile, IDF forces used crowd-control gear to prevent Palestinians from marching toward the outpost.
Mrair council head Faraj Nasser claimed the settlers attacked a shepherd in the village. They later stole the herd, and clashes ensued when dozens of locals retrieved it.
West Bank clashes (Photo: Tazpit news agency)
"During the clashes the settlers slaughtered five cattle and injured five others," the council head said. "The army and Civil Administration forces arrived and asked the Palestinians to return to their homes. Six Palestinians were injured."
The shepherd's son filed a complaint with the police.
Also on Friday, Palestinians from the village of As Sawiya, near the Tapuah Junction, claimed settlers destroyed 75 olive tree saplings and damaged 21 trees. The slogan "price tag" was spray-painted on a barrel in the village.
A few yeas ago, hardline settlers adopted the so-called "price tag" policy, under which they attack Palestinians and their property in response to Israeli government measures against settlements.
In the nearby Shilo Junction, youngsters threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles and shattered the windshields of parked cars. The assailants fled the scene when a police squad car arrived.
