Violence at Al-Aqsa compound

I saw the news on national TV how the clash took place in one of holiest mosques form Muslims. How the Palestinians are always in the front to defend this holy site at all cost, even sacrificing their life. As a muslim, I feel so ashamed as well as sad that I could not participate in their action. I wish I could be there and be one of those who fight with stones against those modern weaponry. It makes me sad that the Palestinians alone defend the mosque while many neighboring countries did nothing but condemning and pleading Israel to stop. They could have done more if they wanted too. I wish I had power to command all Muslim countries to freeze all diplomatic and economic ties wahtsoever with that arrogant government.

Sadly, even acting PM Mahmoud Abbas did not even support the Goldstone report of human rights violation committed by Israel. His action was out of favor of the majority of palestinias while it was popular among Israel and USA. How he could he ignore the real suffering and tragedy of his people and let Israel went unpunished???

Now, it depends of Turkey's PM, Erdogan to save the day as he clearly supported Goldstone report. Many hope that Israel could be brought to justice eventhough the hope is only a slight hint of hope. I remembered how Erdogan walked away from the meeting when Israel PM was there as action of his condemnation of the Gazan slaughter. He's one of the noble character in the region and I pray that he could at least voice the truth and justice for Palestinians.

My prayers for our brothers and sisters in Palestina... you are true martyrs and May Allah grants you all eternity Jannah...

http://islamonline.com/news/articles/26/Violence-at-Al-Aqsa-compound.html

JERUSALEM: Tensions ran high after violence erupted in Jerusalem�s Old City on Sunday at Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, a site revered by Muslims and Jews that has been a major fault line in the Middle East conflict.

Palestinian youths, protesting the intrusion of Jewish occupiers, were beaten by Israeli police, who were deployed throughout the winding narrow streets of the Old City. Police also fired stun grenades, witnesses said.

Police said 17 security force members were wounded in the clashes and 11 people arrested. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of wounded Palestinians.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israel was deliberately raising tensions �at a time when President (Barack) Obama is trying to bridge the divide between Palestinians and Israelis, and to get negotiations back on track.�

�Providing a police escort for settlers who are against peace at all costs, and whose presence is deliberately designed to provoke a reaction, are not the actions of someone who is committed to peace,� he said.

In Cairo, the Arab League expressed �extreme anger� over what it called a �premeditated aggression� by Israeli security forces who had allowed �Zionist extremists� into the mosque compound.

Jordan summoned Israel�s ambassador in Amman in protest over the Israeli �escalation.�

By early afternoon a tense calm reigned in the historic city, with dozens of police officers patrolling the narrow streets and barricades erected at some of the main gates along the city�s 400-year-old walls.

�There is a large police presence in the Old City ... In general, things are quiet,� police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Police and witnesses said the unrest erupted after a group of people entered the mosque compound known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif. Initially the police said the group was made up of Jewish worshippers, but later said they were French tourists.

�The group attacked at the mosque compound was in fact a group of non-Jewish French tourists who visited it as part of their trip,� said Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben Ruby.

�There was a large group of Jewish settlers who gathered outside Al-Aqsa and tried to break in,� said Abu Raed, a Palestinian witness. �Some of them entered and went all the way to the heart of the compound, where there were people praying ... They were Jewish settlers dressed as tourists,� he said. After entering the sprawling compound, the group was confronted by about 150 Muslims who raised slogans, police and witnesses said.

Police later blocked off the compound as speakers from mosques in the Old City urged people to gather at the site to protest.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, slammed the �dangerous escalation� and called for protests. �The occupation bears full responsibility for all the consequences and developments that will follow from this crime,� it said.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound is the third holiest site in Islam and has often been the flashpoint of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The second Palestinian uprising, or intifada, erupted there after former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made a provocative visit in September 2000. �

Source: Arab News