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Police arrest 3 Waqf Temple Mount guards amid clash with Jewish activists
[IsraelTimes] As Israel marks jubilee of Jerusalem’s reunification, security forces strive to contain unrest at contested holy site.

In an unusual move, Israeli police on Wednesday tossed in the calaboose
Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try!
three guards from the Islamic Waqf, a Jordan-based organization that administers the Temple Mount, saying they tried to attack visitors to the Jerusalem site.

Some 15 Jewish activists were also detained by police after they prostrated themselves in the Temple Mount compound, defying restrictions against Jewish acts of worship at the holy site.

The incident came amid the 50th annual celebrations of Jerusalem Day, which marks Israel’s reunification of the city in the 1967 Six Day War. During the afternoon, thousands were expected to take part in the annual "flag dance" in which primarily religious teenagers march through the Old City decked in white and blue, the colors of the Israeli flag.

Many of the detained activists, who campaign for Jewish prayer rights at the holy site, were minors, police said in a statement.

By law, under arrangements Israel instituted after capturing the area in the Six Day War, Jews are not allowed to pray at the Temple Mount, although they can take part in tours.

Hundreds of Jewish visitors lined up during the day to enter the compound. Following the morning incident, a group on a regular scheduled tour of the Temple Mount stood still and sang the Israeli national anthem as they left the compound.

The act provoked an angry response from Arab worshipers and guards from the Waqf.

Officers accompanying the Jewish group immediately acted to remove them from the compound as Waqf guards began shouting at and trying to attack them, police said.

Officers intervened to prevent the guards and the Jews from coming into contact, and in the scuffle, Waqf personnel attacked police. Cops arrested three of the guards and began investigating the incident, including identifying the Jewish participants in the tour, police said.

Video posted on social media showed dozens of Israeli police confronting an angry crowd on the Temple Mount and arresting one of the Waqf guards.

Police noted they had been deployed since early in the morning to enable tourists and visitors to enter the compound safely. Police said they would take stern action against anyone who tried to use the Temple Mount visits to cause unrest or provocations and, likewise, against any attempt to attack visitors or police.

Pro-Palestinian protestors clash with police at Jerusalem Old City gate

[Ynet] Clashes break out between pro-Paleostinian protesters and Israeli security forces as Israeli demonstrators march through the Old City of Jerusalem to mark the 50th anniversary of the city's reunification under Israeli illusory sovereignty, which the protestors consider an occupation.

Several dozen young Israeli men, some holding Israeli flags, were marching through the Old City's Damascus Gate on their way to the Western Wall on Wednesday when they encountered a group of Paleostinian protesters.

Israeli forces moved in, and festivities ensued with the Paleostinian protesters. No injuries were reported.
Posted by: trailing wife 2017-05-25
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=488741