Israeli police storm Temple Mount

Israeli police storm Temple Mount

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Ryan Jones

Israeli security forces stormed Jerusalem's Temple Mount on Friday after Muslims there began hurling stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall below.

Non-lethal crowd control methods were used to disperse the dozens of Muslim rioters, and three young Arabs were arrested for taking a leading role in the violence.

No Jews were injured by the dozens of stones that were thrown down from the top of the Temple Mount.

Most weeks, Israel restricts access to Friday prayers atop the Temple Mount to Muslims over the age of 50 in order to avoid precisely this kind of violence. But, because the site had been quiet for many weeks, the police decided to lift the restriction last week. They likely won't make that mistake again any time soon.

In related news, a Muslim mob raided and razed a small Jewish community in the Jordan Valley following Friday prayers at a local mosque.

Apparently whipped into a frenzy by an anti-Jewish sermon (which are all too common in Palestinian mosques), an estimated 200 Palestinian Arabs arrived at the Gaon Hayarden outpost armed with clubs and metal chains.

The few Jewish youth who were at the outpost (one of many set up without government approval and in defiance of international pressure) resisted briefly before escaping with their lives.

The Muslim mob burned several tents and small structures, including one used for prayer and containing numerous Jewish holy books.

One of the Muslim leaders told Israel's Ynet news portal that the Jews of Judea and Samaria could expect more such raids in the future.