The Latest: 3rd Palestinian killed in clashes in Jerusalem
By Associated Press
Jul 21, 2017 9:55 AM CDT
An Israeli border policeman aims his weapon at Palestinian during clashes in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, July 21, 2017. Israel police severely restricted Muslim access to a contested shrine in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday to prevent protests over the installation of metal detectors at...   (Associated Press)

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Latest on developments in Israel (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says three Palestinians have died so far in the day's confrontations with Israeli forces over security measures at a major Jerusalem shrine.

The clashes are still underway.

The ministry did not elaborate on the identity of the latest fatality or the circumstances of the death. Hospital officials said earlier that two Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces on Friday.

Israeli police say they are investigating.

The clashes erupted in Jerusalem and the West Bank after Israel set up metal detectors at entrances to a sensitive shrine, holy to both Jews and Muslims, after a deadly attack there killed two police officers.

Palestinians view the measure as Israel expanding control over the site. Israel strongly denies the allegation, insisting it is to prevent further attacks.

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5:05 p.m.

A Jerusalem hospital spokeswoman says a Palestinian has been killed by live fire during confrontations with Israeli police in the city.

Bayan Baidoun of Mukassed Hospital says this brings to two the number of Palestinians killed on Friday.

The Palestinian Red Crescent says 41 Palestinians were taken to hospitals or clinics with injures from live fire, rubber bullets and beatings. About 150 Palestinians were treated for tear gas inhalation.

The unrest in Jerusalem and the West Bank was triggered by an escalating Israeli-Palestinian dispute over Israel's decision to install metal detectors at a contested Jerusalem shrine. Muslims say Israel's step, taken after a deadly Palestinian attack, is an attempt to encroach on Muslim rights at the site.

Israel has denied the claim.

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4:45 p.m.

Turkey's prime minister says the country is in dialogue with Israel to end a crisis surrounding a holy shrine revered by Muslims and Jews.

Speaking in Ankara after Friday prayers, Binali Yildirim said worship at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem would be made difficult if each person is searched at entry.

Israel installed the metal detectors after three Israeli Arab gunmen attack from the shrine last week, killing two Israeli policemen.

Yildirim called the precautions "radical," saying limits imposed on Muslim prayers would not contribute to a solution. He said that "our suggestion to Israel is this practice is wrong" and another precaution should be developed.

In Istanbul, hundreds of protesters gathered after Friday prayers, waving Palestinian flags. An ultranationalist group also met outside a synagogue in Istanbul Thursday where some threw rocks at its gate.

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4:10 p.m.

Israel's military says thousands of Palestinians have clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank while the Palestinian Health Ministry says a teenager was shot and killed in Jerusalem.

The military says 3,000 attended several protests on Friday over Israel-imposed metal detectors at a contested Jerusalem holy place. Palestinians rolled burning tires and threw stones at forces who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says the teen died in Jerusalem but circumstances of his death are unclear. It says the 17-year-old was killed near scene of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police. Police are investigating.

It said 4 officers were injured from Palestinians throwing stones and launching fireworks at several protests.

Palestinians are outraged over the metal detectors Israel set near a site holy to both Jews and Muslims following a deadly Palestinian attack there last week.

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2:20 p.m.

Israeli police have clashed with Palestinians in Jerusalem after Muslim prayers were held in protest outside a major shrine.

Associated Press footage shows police throwing stun grenades to disperse protesters in Ras al-Amud, a neighborhood in city's east. An officer can be seen kicking a man as he kneels on a mat.

Police said Palestinians threw stones at officers.

Hundreds prayed at the shrine compound, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, police said. Friday prayers typically draw tens of thousands.

Israel installed metal detectors at gates to the site after Palestinian gunmen killed two policemen there last week.

Palestinian Muslim leaders claim the devices are an Israeli attempt to expand control over the site.

Prayers have been held in the streets in protest. Israel denies the allegations saying the devices are to prevent more attacks.

Sporadic scuffles erupted elsewhere in Jerusalem.

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1:25 p.m.

The top Muslim cleric in Jerusalem is leading hundreds of worshippers in protest prayers in the streets near a contested shrine, saying the faithful must not enter it until Israel has removed metal detectors from its gates.

Mohammed Hussein spoke Friday near the shrine, which is revered by Muslims and Jews. He told the crowd that "this is going to be a long test of wills."

Earlier this week, Israel installed metal detectors at the gates of the walled site, after Palestinians killed two Israeli policemen there in a shooting attack. Muslims demanded the removal of the detectors, alleging they are part of an Israeli attempt to expand its control over the Muslim-administered site.

Israel has denied this and said the metal detectors will remain in place.

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11:30 a.m.

Israeli police say metal detectors will remain in place at a contested Jerusalem shrine, but suggested police may at times choose to only conduct spot checks.

The detectors were installed at the shrine earlier this week, after Palestinian gunmen carried out a deadly attack there.

Muslim leaders allege the metal detectors are part of a purported Israeli plan to expand its control over the Muslim-administered site that is also revered by Jews. Israel denies this.

On Friday, the metal detectors remained in place.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says "Israeli police can decide on the level of checks," suggesting spot checks are a possibility.

At Lion's Gate, one of the flashpoints, an officer told worshippers Friday they wouldn't be checked ahead of noon prayers, an offer they rejected.

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11:15 a.m.

A senior Palestinian official says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked the United States to "intervene urgently" and compel Israel to remove metal detectors from a contested Jerusalem shrine.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh said Friday that Abbas discussed the growing tensions in Jerusalem in a phone call with Trump's top adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Abu Rdeneh says Abbas told Kushner that the situation is "extremely dangerous and may go out of control" unless Israel removes the metal detectors.

Israeli police installed the metal detectors at gates to the shrine, revered by Muslims and Jews, after Palestinians carried out a deadly attack from there. Muslim leaders have called for protest, alleging that the security measures are part of a purported Israeli campaign to expand its control over the site.

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10:35 a.m.

Israeli security forces have set up a series of checkpoints to restrict access to Jerusalem's Old City, where Muslim leaders have called for protests at a contested shrine.

Police announced that Muslim men under the age of 50 are banned from the site Friday.

Typically, tens of thousands of Muslims from Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel converge on the shrine for Friday prayers.

On Friday, Palestinians below 50 were turned away at Israeli checkpoints between the West Bank and Jerusalem. An Arab lawmaker in Israel's parliament says he and fellow Arab citizens were stopped by police on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The latest escalation was triggered by metal detectors, installed by Israel at the shrine after a deadly Palestinian attack there. Muslim leaders have called for protests.

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9:30 a.m.

A spokesman has confirmed reports that Israel's government has decided not to overrule an earlier police decision to install metal detectors at a contested Jerusalem holy shrine.

Spokesman David Keyes says the decision was made early Friday by Israel's security Cabinet after an overnight meeting.

The decision to defer to police came amid reports of disagreement among Israel's security services about the need for the metal detectors, which were installed after Palestinian gunmen carried out a deadly attack from the shrine last week.

Muslims have called for mass protests later Friday.

The military and the Shin Bet security services, which deal directly with Palestinians, were reportedly opposed to the devices.

The Cabinet decision came despite appeals by Israel's security ally Jordan, custodian of the shrine, to remove the detectors.

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9:15 a.m.

An advocacy group says Israeli police have detained 10 prominent Palestinian activists in Jerusalem, including the leader of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement in the city.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club says the city's Fatah chief, Hatem Abdel Khader, was among those detained.

Israeli police were not available for comment.

The detentions came ahead of expected Palestinian mass protests over Israel's decision to install metal detectors at a contested holy site in Jerusalem. Muslim leaders have urged worshippers to pray in the streets Friday rather than walk through metal detectors.

Israel installed the devices after Palestinian gunmen launched a deadly attack from there.

Muslim leaders allege the metal detectors are part of a purported Israeli attempt to expand control over the site.

Israel has denied such allegations.

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8 a.m.

An Israeli police spokesman says police are banning Muslim men under the age of 50 from a contested Jerusalem shrine ahead of feared mass protests over the installation of metal detectors there.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that reinforcements are being deployed in and around Jerusalem's Old City, where the walled shrine is located.

He says: "Police and border police units mobilized in all areas and neighborhoods."

Muslim leaders have called for mass protests at Friday noon prayers. They urged worshippers to pray outside the shrine rather than submit to security procedures.

The shrine is revered by Muslims and Jews. Muslim leaders allege Israel is trying to expand its control there by installing the security devices. Police took the action after Palestinians launched a deadly attack from there.

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