Jerusalem Day: Police Close Temple Mount As Major Clashes Hit Holy Site

Major clashes broke out Monday morning between police and Palestinian rioters inside Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, with hundreds said wounded, after authorities decided to bar Jews from entering the flashpoint holy site on Jerusalem Day due to spiraling tensions in the capital.

Police were also set to rule on whether to allow a planned celebratory parade by nationalist Jews through the capital, amid warnings from security officials that the Flag March could lead to a further escalation in violence.

Police entered the Temple Mount compound in the morning after thousands of Palestinians had gathered in the compound overnight, having collected numerous rocks and other makeshift weapons. Police said dozens of rioters attacked a police post and started hurling rocks from the Temple Mount toward a road south of the compound, blocking the road but causing no injuries or damage.

Sunday night saw fierce clashes between Palestinian protesters and police in Jerusalem. At least 25 people were wounded and 23 people arrested.

The Temple Mount is considered holy by both Muslims and Jews. The site contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque as claimed by Muslims as the third holiest site in Islam — and is revered by Jews as their holiest site, where both biblical Temples stood. Jews have been barred from entering the site in recent days amid the tensions, which coincide with the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.