Rioting Closes Temple Mount as Israel Celebrates “Jerusalem Day”

Rock-throwing and rioting caused police to close Jerusalem’s Temple Mount — known to Muslims as Haram Al-Sharif, The Noble Sanctuary — on the day Israelis are celebrating “Jerusalem Day,” the anniversary of the day the ancient city came under Israeli control during the 1967 war. Palestinians wearing masks threw rocks and stones at police officers and barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque. Several policemen were injured in the melee during which rubber bullets and teargas were fired. Right wing Jewish organizations were encouraging Jews to come to the Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day; this, against the backdrop of recent aggressive political posturing about the Temple Mount including the initiation of legislation that would permit non-Muslims to pray at the holy site, where only Muslims have been allowed to do so since 1967. An annual parade through the streets of the new and Old City marking Jerusalem Day takes place in the afternoon. Prime Minister Netanyahu kicked-off the festivities with a speech on Tuesday evening at an institute of religious learning  named for Israel’s first chief rabbi. There, Netanyahu vowed Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of the Jewish state of Israel.