ByAnonymous, Anonymous
1 min read
ByAnonymous, Anonymous
Hundreds of extra police officers will be deployed in Jerusalem after violence flared at Temple Mount this week.
In three consecutive days of clashes, Palestinian youths threw explosives, firebombs and stones at police, and attacked civilians approaching the complex.
The violence came as Israel marked the New Year and a day after an Israeli man suffered a fatal crash after a rock was thrown at his car.
As a result of the incidents, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Monday evening that he would fast-track legislation to set a minimum sentence for stone and firebomb throwing.
At a special meeting convened in Jerusalem, acting police commissioner Bentzi Sau called on police forces to stop "the law-breakers" and said Israel Police "will not spare any means or forces necessary" to quell the unrest.
The White House said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about the clashes at Temple Mount, and "strongly condemns all acts of violence at the sacred site." Also on Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden expressed concern about the rising tension. Mr Biden told Jordanian King Abdullah that all parties must "exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions, and to uphold the historic status quo at the holy site".