Israeli police, Arabs clash at Jerusalem holy site

Israeli police and Arab protestors clashed at a holy compound in Jerusalem on Sunday, highlighting an already inflammable atmosphere around the site sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

Security forces used stun grenades to disperse the crowd and arrested a dozen during the Sunday morning confrontations, which saw Arab protestors pelt police with stones, reported local daily Ha'aretz.

The violence, in which several injuries were reported, erupted as Israeli police beefed up security measures after local Muslim leaders called upon Arabs over the weekend to defend the holy compound in the Old City from what they called a "Jewish conquest."

The appeal stemmed from rumors among local Arabs that Jewish extremists are attempting to harm the hilltop site, known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, to Muslims and as the Temple Mount to Jews.

Generally, Muslims pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, inside the compound while Jews pray at the Western Wall outside it. Routine management of the compound is in the charge of a Muslim organization.

Three weeks ago, similar rumors triggered days of massive clashes in the Arab-dominated East Jerusalem, which houses the Old City.

Israel captured the section of the holy city in 1967 and later annexed it, but Palestinians claim it to be the capital of their future state.

Source: Xinhua