Israeli Police Forbid Palestinian from Entering Al-Aqsa Mosque

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tension continues to rise in areas around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem yesterday. Israeli police forbid Palestinian worshippers from entering the complex to do their dawn (Subuh) prayer a day after the clash between the police and the Palestinians.

Many worshippers trying to enter the compound were turned away by the police, who prevented all but those over 60-years old from entering the holy site, forcing many Palestinians to offer their dawn prayers on the streets.

Al Jazeera reported that the police used stun grenades to disperse many of the younger worshippers who objected to being blocked from the site.

This comes following a day of skirmishes in the mosque's compound on Monday after Jewish and non-Jewish groups entered the compound with the Israeli police for the Sukkot Jewish holidays. Far-right Jewish activists have openly called on the Israeli government to practice more sovereignty and control over the Al-Aqsa compound, which is under Jordan's custodianship. However, Palestinians strongly reaffirms that they are the ones eligible because it is one of holy places for Muslims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the "Palestine extremist groups" for causing the clash on Monday. He denied that Israel is behind the provocation. "Israel is committed to maintain the status quo (Al-Aqsa) exactly the way it has been for the last couple of decades. What we are seeing is the ploy from Palestine extremists who are spreading violence through provocation," he said in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday.

HAAREZT | AL-ARABIYA | AL-JAZEERA | RAJU FEBRIAN