Israel bars Friday worshippers from Al-Aqsa

RAMALLAH: The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein said that the Israeli police prevented thousands of Palestinian worshippers from attending the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Hussein said in a press statement that the Jerusalem police allowed Palestinian men over the age of 50 carrying Israeli identity card to enter the mosque for the prayer. He added that the women's entry was not limited. The Israeli police confirmed the move.

The police said the move was part of efforts to prevent disturbances following the Wednesday's shooting attack in the East Jerusalem's neighborhood of Silwan where 32-year-old Samer Sarhan was shot dead by an Israeli security guard.

The Israeli military already had imposed a 10-day closure of the West Bank as Jews celebrate the festival of Sukkot.

Israeli Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen has ordered the security forces "to remain on high alert throughout Jerusalem in the coming days." Massive police and Border Guard forces will continue to deploy throughout the city, he said.

Following an evaluation of the situation, he said, "the police will continue to provide personal security to the hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors flocking to the capital."

The Israeli Magen David rescue services were also on a heightened state of alert as well in case of injuries in the event of escalation in the area.

Sixteen Palestinians have been detained in connection with clashes in East Jerusalem, police said on Friday.

"We have arrested 16 residents, suspected of participating or organizing the violence," Jerusalem police spokesman Shmulik Ben Rubi said.

Two local leaders of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah were among those who were detained, the faction said in a statement.

Fatah vowed it would "continue fighting to protect the population" against Israeli settlers.

In the West Bank, an Israeli soldier was lightly injured in an anti-separation wall protest in the village of Al-Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah. He was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.

In the village of Ni'lin, west of Ramallah, some 100 Palestinians and Israeli and foreign left-wing activists clashed with the Israeli security forces. Palestinian medical sources said that a protester was lightly hurt from live ammunition used to disperse the anti-wall rally.

By MOPHAMMED MAR'I