Police temporarily close Temple Mount to non-Muslim visitors after rioting resumes
Following three consecutive days of rioting by Arab youths on the Temple Mount, police announced Tuesday morning that the contested holy site will be temporarily closed to non-Muslim visitors, at least through Thursday.
In a statement, police said the decision was made after security assessments indicated it was not safe for Jewish visitors, who have been the target of numerous attacks there since Sunday, when the final 10 days of Ramadan commenced.
Despite banning non-Muslim visitors from the compound on Tuesday, rioting resumed when a group of masked Muslim youths threw rocks and other objects at police officers stationed there, then barricaded themselves in al-Aksa Mosque, which police are forbidden from entering.