BICOM

Clashes erupted for a third day in a row on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, while an Israeli man was killed after a rock attack on his car, prompting an emergency meeting of Israeli ministers and security officials.

The Temple Mount, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims, became a significant flashpoint for violence towards the end of 2014. Following Israel’s capture of Jerusalem’s Old City during the 1967 Six Day War, Jews have been permitted to visit the site only in small numbers and are banned from praying at the Temple Mount for fear that it would provoke a violent response.

Jewish visitors were expected at the site during the two-day Jewish New Year which concluded yesterday evening. During that time, periodic clashes ensued before youths barricaded themselves in the al-Aqsa Mosque with rocks, fireworks and pipe bombs on Monday night, preparing an attack on non-Muslim visitors. When the Temple Mount was opened to visitors yesterday morning, rioters began throwing stones towards the entrance, prompting Israeli police and border guards to enter the Temple Mount area, where they were attacked with rocks, concrete blocks and a firebomb.

Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said, “It’s unacceptable that Muslim rioters would barricade themselves overnight on the Temple Mount and turn this holy place into a battle field.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, 64-year-old Israeli Alexander Levlovitz was killed when the car he was driving crashed in Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv neighbourhood after it was attacked by rock throwers. Levlovitz was returning from a New Year festive meal.

In response to the violence in Jerusalem, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting of ministers and security officials last night. They decided on a number of measures, including a minimum sentence for rock throwing and a revision of the rules of engagement in such circumstances. Netanyahu said, “We will fight through all means necessary against rock throwers, firebomb and pipe bomb throwers, and those who shoot fireworks to harm citizens and police officers.”