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Arabs Riot on the Temple Mount

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israel Police dispersed an Arab riot on the Temple Mount Tuesday morning. Three men were taken into custody.

Dozens of Arab youths pelted police with rocks and fireworks, moderately injuring two officers who were transported to Jerusalem's Sha'are Tzedek Hospital for treatment.

Early reports claiming police closed the Temple Mount to non-Muslims proved false.

Meanwhile, Israeli Knesset members will discuss Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount during Tuesday's session. According to Arutz Sheva, it's the first time parliamentarians have debated the issue since the Six Day War. Several Israeli media outlets attributed the riots to Tuesday's Knesset hearing.

When Jerusalem was reunited under Jewish sovereignty in 1967, the government allowed the Waqf (Islamic religious trust) to administer the day-to-day activities on the Mount, while Israel retained security control over the area.

The result has been that only Muslims are allowed to pray there. Jews -- or Christians for that matter -- may not even appear to be praying. The police enforce the ban to maintain a semblance of quiet there.

From time to time, Muslims worshippers throw rocks at Jews praying below at the Western Wall, the only remaining vestige of the Jewish Temples.

Leaders of both Palestinian factions -- Fatah and Hamas -- frequently incite the populace with claims that Israel plans to desecrate the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa Mosque and build the third Jewish Temple there.

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