Clashes erupt in Jerusalem amid tension over metal detectors at holy site
Six people have been killed in the bloodiest spate of Israeli-Palestinian violence for years, prompted by new Israeli security measures at Jerusalem's holiest site.
Key points:
- 3,000 people protested Israel-imposed metal detectors at a holy place
- Israel says metal detectors needed to prevent smuggling of weapons
- Palestinian Health Ministry says a 17-year-old was killed in clashes
Three Israelis were stabbed to death in a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, hours after three Palestinians were killed in violence prompted by Israel's installation of metal detectors at entry points to the Noble Sanctuary-Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's walled Old City.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contact with Israel until it removed the metal detectors. He gave no details, but current contacts are largely limited to security cooperation.
"I declare the suspension of all contacts with the Israeli side on all levels until it cancels its measures at al Aqsa mosque and preserves the status quo," Mr Abbas said in a brief televised speech.
The three Israelis stabbed to death and a fourth who was wounded were from the fenced-in West Bank settlement of Neve Tsuf. Israeli media said the three dead were all members of the same family, two men aged 60 and 40 and a woman of 40.
The wounded woman, 68, was hospitalised with stab wounds to her back, Israeli media said.
A still photo carried by Israeli television showed a kitchen floor completely red with blood. The family had sat down to a traditional Friday evening meal when the attack occurred, according to Israel Radio.
The Israeli army and media said the assailant slipped into the settlement under cover of darkness to carry out his attack.
Israel Radio identified him as a 19-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank village of Khobar near Ramallah. It said he was shot, but his condition was not initially known.
Earlier that day, thousands of Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank amid friction over Israel-imposed metal detectors at the Al Aqsa mosque compound.
In Friday's protests, Palestinians rolled burning tires and threw stones at forces, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
There have been daily confrontations since the installation of the detectors at the entrance to the shrine following a deadly Palestinian attack there last week.
Israel installed new metal detectors at the site after two Israeli policemen were killed near the compound last Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet decided to keep the detectors in place, saying they were needed to prevent arms being struggled into the shrine, which sparked the protests.
Hundreds of worshippers gathered at various entrances to the compound — known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount — before Friday prayers, but refused to enter, preferring to pray outside.
"We reject Israeli restrictions at the Aqsa Mosque," said Jerusalem's senior Muslim cleric, Grand Mufti Mohammad Hussein.
Ahmad Abdul Salaam, a local businessman who came to pray outside the Noble Sanctuary, said he was against the installation of the metal detectors.
"Putting these metal detectors at the entrance to our place of worship is like putting them at the entrance to our house," he said.
"Are you really going to put me through a metal detector as I go into my house?"
A source of religious friction
The hill-top compound, which contains the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque, has long been a source of religious friction.
Since Israel captured and annexed the Old City, including the compound, in the 1967 Middle East war, it has also become a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
"This is our place of prayer, we have sovereignty here," Mr Salaam added.
On Thursday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to press for the removal of the metal detectors.
Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations' special coordinator for long-stalled Israel-Palestinian peace talks, appealed for calm and the White House urged a resolution.
Jordan, which is the ultimate custodian of the holy site, has also been involved in mediation efforts.
AP/Reuters