MUSLIM prayers at a major Jerusalem shrine have ended peacefully following tensions over security measures by Israeli forces, although violence continued in the West Bank where a Palestinian was killed after attacking soldiers.
Israeli forces are on high alert following two weeks of violence over the sacred site, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews.
Tensions flared at the site after Arab gunmen killed two police officers there on July 14, prompting Israel to install security devices at entrances.
The move outraged Muslims and sparked some of the worst street clashes in years, threatening to draw Israel into conflict with other Arab and Muslim nations.
Firas Dibs, an official from the Jordanian religious body which administers the sacred site, said tens of thousands attended Friday prayers.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said prayers at the Jerusalem shrine ended without incident. There were some sporadic low-level scuffles between Palestinians and Israeli forces nearby, but nothing on the scale of recent violence.
A Palestinian was later shot and killed after he ran towards troops armed with a knife in the West Bank, Israel’s military said. No soldiers were injured in the incident at the Gush Etzion Junction, a busy intersection south of Jerusalem which has been the site of multiple Palestinian attacks over the past two years.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here