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Israelis, Palestinians Clash at Jerusalem's Holiest Site

Sharon's 2000 visit to contested shrine sparked years of violence

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 25, 2009 11:36 AM CDT
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(AP) – Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's holiest shrine today, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in a fresh eruption of violence in the country's most volatile spot. A wall of Israeli riot police behind plexiglass shields sent many protesters—overwhelmingly young men—running for cover into the black-domed al-Aqsa mosque.

After several rounds of clashes, dozens of protesters were still holed up inside the mosque at midafternoon, occasionally opening shuttered doors to throw objects at police. The Israeli forces did not enter the building and police said they had no plans to do so. There were no serious injuries. A visit in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then an Israeli opposition leader, ignited deadly clashes that engulfed Israel and the Palestinian territories for several years.

Masked Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli policemen, not seen, during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
Masked Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli policemen, not seen, during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (Ariel Schalit)
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian youth during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian youth during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Amud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (Ariel Schalit)
A Palestinian man tries to extinguish a fire erupted during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
A Palestinian man tries to extinguish a fire erupted during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
Palestinian youths hurl stones during clashes with Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Israeli forces stormed the Jerusalem's holiest shrine, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, Sunday, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Palestinian protesters...
Palestinian youths hurl stones during clashes with Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Israeli forces stormed the Jerusalem's holiest shrine, known to Jews as the...   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
Palestinians hurl stones in clashes in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's holiest shrine, known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
Palestinians hurl stones in clashes in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's holiest shrine, known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
A Palestinian man tries to extinguish a fire which erupted during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
A Palestinian man tries to extinguish a fire which erupted during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
Palestinian youth hold stones during clashes with Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
Palestinian youth hold stones during clashes with Israeli police, not seen, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
A Palestinian youth hides, right, as he hurls stone at Israeli policemen, background left, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
A Palestinian youth hides, right, as he hurls stone at Israeli policemen, background left, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (SEBASTIAN SCHEINER)
Masked Palestinians youths, one holding a stone, during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Hamud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
Masked Palestinians youths, one holding a stone, during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Hamud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (Ariel Schalit)
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian youth during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Hamud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.
Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian youth during clashes in the Arab neighborhood of Ras Al Hamud in east Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.   (Ariel Schalit)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
luvroks
Oct 26, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
You can always tell the haters on here..."its that guy" no " its this guy".......I got news for both sides. Neither the Palestinians or Israelis are innocent in this conflict. But say what you want, Israel has always had the backing of the United States, no matter the atrocities they inflict on civilians. And Israel has the military might and hardware to inflict FAR MORE damage as do the rock throwing Palestinians. Both sides need to think in terms of "How can we live together"
NxBigmouthery
Oct 26, 2009 11:26 AM CDT
They're both fantastic and respectful and neither side has ever done anything reprehensible.
RockyPneumonia
Oct 26, 2009 4:06 AM CDT
Again, blaming it entirely on religion is the easy out -- and as we learned over the past eight years (except for those of us who already knew it) the easy choice is rarely the correct choice. It's much more complicated than that.

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Israel • Jerusalem • Benjamin Netanyahu • Israel and Palestinians • Palestinians • Temple Mount • protesters • Noble Sanctuary

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