Palestinians and Israeli police clashed at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem Sunday, the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.
The fracas broke out after police entered the compound in pursuit of Palestinians who earlier had barricaded themselves in the mosque and thrown rocks and flares at police. The Israeli authorities used tear gas and threw stun grenades at Palestinian youths.
Jordan, which has custodian rights over the mosque, condemned the raid, accusing the Jewish state of "provocations" and "attempts to change the status quo" of one of the most sensitive holy sites in the Mideast.
Under current strictures on the site, Jews can visit but not pray there for fear it would create friction with Muslim worshippers.
The mosque was reopened to visitors after Sunday's violence was quelled.
Violence at the site has been escalating because Muslims are upset by non-Muslim visitors and a push to allow Jewish prayer in the compound outside al-Aqsa.
Jews revere the site as the Temple Mount and regard it as their holiest site. Muslims call it the Noble Sanctuary, and revere it as their third holiest site, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Some material for this report came from AFP and Reuters.
