February 9, 2007

Following Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque, some 200 Israeli riot police raid the mosque compound, clash with stone-throwing Palestinian worshipers protesting over Israel’s excavation work nr. the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount (see 2/6); riots spread to other areas of the Old City, leaving at least 30 Palestinians requiring hospitalization, 15 policemen injured; some 3,000 Israeli police had been stationed around the mosque in anticipation of violence. UNESCO calls on Israel to “suspend any action [at the site] that could endanger the spirit of mutual respect.” In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, tear gas, percussion grenades to disperse a 10s of Palestinians in Hebron peacefully protesting Israel’s construction at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount; also fires on stone-throwing Palestinians holding a similar demonstration outside ‘Arub r.c., seriously wounding 1 Palestinian; sends troops into ‘Azun, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 2 Palestinians. (NYT 2/9; NYT, WP, WT 2/10; MM 2/12; OCHA 2/14; PCHR 2/15)