Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemns "attack" on Al-Aqsa following clashes at one of
Islam's holiest sites.
Clashes have erupted after a number Of Israeli soldiers entered the Al-Aqsa
Mosque compound in Jerusalem, police and witnesses said. The Israeli security personnel used tear
gas and stun grenades, as they entered the compound to arrest what they called Palestinian "stone
throwers". Omar Kiswani, the manager of Al-Aqsa Mosque, told Al Jazeera that 80 "Jewish settlers-
protected by the Israeli police, attacked the mosque when confronted by Palestinian volunteer guards.
A statement issued by the Israeli police said that "masked protesters who were inside the mosque
threw stones and fireworks at police". A TV-Muslim witness accused police of entering the mosque and
causing damage, saying prayer mats were partially burned Clashes later continued outside the
mosque complex, with police firing tear gas and stun grenades. Israeli security forces closed the
mosque's compound to worshippers following the clashes that come just hours before the Start Of the
Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called
an "attack" by Israeli authorities. "The presidency strongly condemns the attack by the occupier's
military and police against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were
there," a statement from his office said. Israeli forces, accompanied by minister of agriculture
stormed Al-aqsa mosque early this morning. Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for Israeli police, said
that the Israeli police received intelligence in the morning about the possible disturbances at Al-Aqsa
Mosque that would involve explosive devices as well as stones thrown at Jewish visitors. Police
officers entered the area, I am talking about the Temple Mount area only, and shut the front doors of
the Al Aqsa Mosque to prevent those riots from overflowing onto the Temple Mount area. "Our
police units took the situation under control from 20 to 25 minutes only using stun grenades, non-
lethal weapons only to make sure that situation remained calm. Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary-
general of the Palestinian National Initiative, said that the Israeli police were being dishonest. "The
Israeli police are lying, they have lied before and they are lying again," he said. "I think what
happened today is an act of aggression on the part of the Israeli army,- he said, adding that right-wing
Jewish settlers provoked Palestinians when they entered the mosque. "This is unacceptable. Al
Jazeera's Scott Heidler, reporting from Jerusalem, said there are some reports that Jewish groups and
Jewish activists who are not supposed to pray in the Al-Aqsa compound got in there, and this is what
could have triggered the clashes. "We are hearing that the minister of agriculture, a member of a
right-wing political party here in Israel, was waiting to get into the compound this morning If that
directly sparked what we saw, it is difficult to say," Heidler said. The disturbances carne with
tensions running high after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week banned two Muslim
groups from entering the mosque compound Islam's third holiest site. Israel seized East Jerusalem,
where Al Aqsa is located, in the Six Day War Of 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognised
by the international community. Clashes continued outside the mosque complex, with police firing
tear gas and stun grenades
Renewed clashes at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
At least three arrested in second day of clashes as Israeli security forces storm the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
straight day on Monday, prompting several arrests. " As the police entered the compound, masked
youths fled inside the mosque and threw stones at the force," an Israeli police statement said. Police
said they entered the hilltop compound to ensure that Muslim youths massing there did not harass
Jews or tourists during the morning visiting hours. The statement added that three protesters were
arrested. Israeli security personnel on Sunday used tear gas and stun grenades in a move condemned
by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as they entered the compound to arrest what they called
Palestinian "stone throwers". "The presidency strongly condemns the attack by the occupier's military
and police against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there," a
statement from his office said. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound, but Jews must
display national symbols for fear of triggering tensions with Muslim worshipers. Muslims fear Israel
will seek to change rules governing the site, with far-right Jewish groups pushing for more access and
even efforts by fringe organisations to erect a new temple. Al-Aqsa Mosque is Muslim's third holiest
site. Israel seized East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, in the Six Day War of 1967 and later
annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.
"Renewed clashes at Jerusalem 's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound" Al-Jazeera. Al-Jazeera English. 14 September 2015 09:13 GMT. 14 September 2015 05:01 EAT.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/renewed-clashes-jerusalem-al-aqsa-mosque-compound-150914072317224.html
This article caught my attention because it is about the situation between Israel and Palestine, particularly because it is about one of the focal points of the conflict. The Temple Mount which is where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located. The article intended for Arab adults was most definitely biased towards the Palestine side of the story. This is evident because in the pictures ( if you can't see them in them in the blog click on the URL above) you only see Palestine individuals being attacked, you don’t see them throwing stones at the Jewish police. Also only the Palestinian reaction is given in the article, the Jewish side of the story is mostly ignored. This bias is because Al-Jazeera is an Arab news media so understandably they would present their twist on the truth.
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