Dozens of Palestinians have thrown stones, Molotov cocktails and burning tires, while Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have replied with tear-gas and rubber bullets, as violence broke out yet again around Jerusalem.
The skirmish broke out during a mass funeral procession for Talar Ramia, who was killed by the IDF a day earlier. The 25 year-old Palestinian was shot in the chest during a riot on Temple Mount on Friday, reportedly while launching an explosive firework at an Israeli soldier.The IDF claims four were injured in the funeral stand-off, while Palestinian news agencies put the number at nine. This comes on the back of a week of intense conflict in Jerusalem.Temple Mount, a holy site for Christians, Jews and Muslims, has been occupied by mobs of Palestinian youths several times in the past few days. Their anger has been stoked by an influential Islamic preacher who claims that Jews plan to desecrate the Muslim mosque atop Temple Mount, and then rebuild their own temple.Jewish authorities and clerics deny any such plans, although one radical Jewish website did encourage worshippers to “take control” of Temple Mount. There are, however, plans to upgrade a bridge used by non-Muslims to access the holy site.Friday saw the biggest clash, as hundreds of Palestinians threw stones at tourists and barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque, until they were dispersed. More than two dozen were injured on both sides.