Police disperse rioters at holy site

VIOLENCE at a holy site did not affect prayers at the Western Wall ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, which started yesterday at sundown and ends at sundown today.

Israeli police used stun grenades to disperse Palestinian rioters on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, police said.

The incident took place during a visit by a Jewish group to the site. Deadly violence has erupted there several times in the past.

Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said about 150 Palestinians threw stones at the Jews visiting the site.

Police dispersed the rioters using stun grenades. Two policemen were injured.

Rabah Bkirat, an official with the Muslim religious body in charge of managing the site, said some of the protesters had come because of rumours of an “invasion” by Jewish settlers.

When a group of 15 Jews entered the grounds accompanied by police, the protesters began chanting slogans and only threw stones after police used force, he said.

Eleven Palestinians sustained minor injuries.