Violence Erupts on Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Day Commemorating Destruction of Early Temples

Raphael Poch : Jul 27, 2015
Breaking Israel News

In order to prevent what would have been a massive attack on unarmed non-Muslim worshippers, police entered the Temple Mount in force Sundaymorning and clashed with rioters.

(Israel)—Violent clashes between Muslims and Israeli Police erupted on the Temple Mount on Sunday, as Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and stones were thrown at Police and Jewish visitors to the site.

The violence broke out amid a Jewish day of mourning and fasting for the destruction of both Jewish Holy Temples, which stood on the Temple Mount. Tens of thousands of Jews gathered at the Western Wall to mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

The rioters made creative use of umbrellas that were set up to provide shade on the Temple Mount for Ramadan worshipers. The umbrellas were used to set up barricades inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque to allow for cover for the rioters against Police engagement.

Four Israeli Border Police officers were injured as a result of being hit by stones and unidentified chemicals fired from within the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Palestinian rioters.

"The police were attacked immediately upon entering the Temple Mount compound by Palestinians armed with rocks, firebombs, fireworks and metal pipes," explained Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. "Using non-lethal means, officers pushed the assailants into Al-Aqsa Mosque—without entering it themselves—to secure the area, and to ensure visiting hours could take place without further incident."

Two of the injured officers were evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital while the other two were treated at the scene. Palestinian sources say that some of the rioters suffered wounds from being hit with rubber bullets while others from exposure to gas grenades that were fired at them by security forces.

While the Temple Mount was closed for a short period during the riots, it was soon reopened to Jewish visitors. However, the Jews were accosted verbally by Arabs on the Mount as is usual, with chants of "Jewish Pigs" and similar racial slurs.

Click here to see a police video of the riot.