Israeli police arrest 11 Palestinians in vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque

By Anadolu Staff

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli police arrested on Friday 11 Palestinians in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Police said three Palestinians were held in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque after the end of Friday prayers.

It claimed that one of the Palestinians “attacked police officers,” while two others were removed from the area when they “violated a deportation decision.”

Police issue such decisions to keep worshipers away from Al-Aqsa Mosque for periods that vary between a week and several months.

In a separate statement, police said "8 individuals were arrested following their participation in incendiary chants” after Fajr, or early morning, prayer.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Despite Israeli restrictions, thousands of worshippers made it to the holy site for the last Friday prayer of Ramadan.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi