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WORLD NEWS Monday 17 July 2017

Israel reopens Jerusalem

holy site after deadly assault

By ARON HELLER a Jordanian government than 255 Palestinians, most
Associated Press official. Jordan’s stance is of them said by Israel to
JERUSALEM (AP) — Hun- that anything installed at be attackers while others
dreds of Muslim worship- the site must be approved were killed in clashes with
pers visited a Jerusalem by the Waqf, or Muslim ad- Israeli forces. Israel blames
holy site Sunday after Israel ministration, and cannot the violence on incitement
reopened the compound change the status quo, by Palestinian political
following a rare closure said the official who spoke and religious leaders com-
in response to a deadly on condition of anonymity pounded on social media Israeli border police officers stand guard as Muslim men pray
shooting last week that because he was not au- sites that glorify violence. outside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem Sunday,
raised concerns about wid- thorized to discuss the still q July 16, 2017. Associated Press
er unrest. developing situation with
For the first time in de- reporters. The Palestinian
cades, Israel closed the Minister of Jerusalem Ad-
site — known to Muslims nan Husseini called for the
as the Noble Sanctuary security arrangements to
and to Jews as the Temple return to how they were
Mount — on Friday after before the deadly attack,
three Arab citizens of Is- saying it “shouldn’t be an
rael opened fire from the excuse for making chang-
sacred site with automatic es.” The attack triggered
weapons, killing two po- a rare phone conversa-
lice officers. The three were tion between Netanyahu
later shot dead inside the and Palestinian President
compound. Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who
Benjamin Netanyahu said condemned the attack
that following consultations and called for the site to
with security officials the be reopened. Netanyahu
site would be reopened sought to allay Muslim fears,
Sunday afternoon with in- saying that the status quo
creased security measures at the Muslim-administered
that included metal detec- site “will be preserved.” But
tors at the entrance gates Gaza’s Hamas rulers called
and additional security the act a “religious war”
cameras. and urged Palestinians to
At midday, Israeli police carry out more attacks.
opened two of the gates Early Sunday, Israeli police
to the compound to al- said security forces shot
low worshippers to enter dead a Palestinian assail-
through the newly erected ant behind a pair of recent
detectors. Police said some shooting attacks. Spokes-
worshippers refused to go man Micky Rosenfeld said
through them and knelt police tracked down the
to pray outside instead. 34-year-old suspect in a
But despite concerns that joint operation with the mil-
the new measures could itary. The suspect opened
slow movement and spark fire with an automatic
renewed tensions, police weapon, prompting the
said they appeared to troops to return fire, killing
be working fine and that him. In the past two years,
200 people had already Palestinians have killed 45
passed through. Israelis, two visiting Ameri-
Israel did not coordinate cans and a British tour-
the changes with Jordan, ist in stabbings, shootings
which serves as the custo- and car-ramming attacks.
dian of the Muslim-admin- During that period, Israeli
istered site, according to forces have killed more