JERUSALEM — Violence between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces spread beyond the walls of Jerusalem’s old city on Friday, with at least eight Palestinians shot in clashes in the West Bank and Israeli policemen injured by firebombs in a restive part of the city.
In a rare decision, Israeli leaders called up a few hundred border police reservists to beef up security as tensions rise over Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. One Israeli civilian has been killed in the violence since Sunday.
In the West Bank, violent protests broke out after Muslim prayers Friday afternoon. Israeli troops fired tear gas and deployed a water cannon to disperse stone-throwing Palestinian youths. The Palestinian Red Crescent said eight Palestinians were seriously hurt after being shot by live rounds. About 20 were lightly hurt in clashes with Israeli soldiers, it said.
Two Palestinians were shot and wounded while throwing firebombs at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, police said.
Palestinians also clashed with Israeli forces in Hebron, Qalandia and elsewhere.
The policemen were attacked on Friday near the area in Jerusalem where an Israeli man died earlier in the week after Palestinians pelted his car with rocks. Palestinians threw firebombs and rocks at the officers, and three of them were taken to a hospital, authorities said. Emergency services said one officer was shot in the arm.
Most of the unrest had until now focused on Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site — a hilltop compound sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The compound is a frequent flashpoint and its fate is a core issue at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples and the religion’s holiest site. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary and it is Islam’s third holiest spot, where they believe Prophet Muhammad ascended on a visit to heaven.
Since Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967, Jews have been allowed to visit — but not pray — at the compound. Under an arrangement, Muslim authorities manage the site’s religious and civilian affairs under Jordanian supervision, while Israeli police oversee security.
Palestinians say in the last two months there has been a new development where Israel has intermittently restricted some Muslims from the compound when Jews visit. Israel says this is to reduce friction, but Palestinians claim that Israel intends to establish Muslim-free Jewish visiting hours, which they fear could lead to upsets in the fragile arrangement in place.
Israel has reiterated its position that it has no plans to change the status quo at the site. But even rumors to the contrary are enough to spark violence.
The unrest began Sunday on the eve of the Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashanah when Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threw rocks and firecrackers at officers. Police said pipe bombs were also found there.
