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Subscribe to RSSIsraeli police entered Jerusalem's holiest site to disperse hundreds of Palestinians who were throwing rocks. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
TEL AVIV, Israel — Dozens of Israeli security officers and Palestinian worshipers clashed at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.
According to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, police entered Al-Aqsa after Palestinians threw stones and two firebombs at them. The situation was under control, although there were still several masked men in the mosque, which the police would not enter, he said.
Al-Aqsa is one of Islam's holiest sites. It is also revered by Jews as the site of their Biblical temple.
Mahmoud Ilean / AP
Israeli forces enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday.
Some have blamed a 2000 visit to the area by then-Likud leader Ariel Sharon and Israeli security forces for helping to spark the Palestinians' Second Uprising — or Intifada.
The latest clashes erupted in the wake of unconfirmed reports that an Israeli security guard entered Al-Aqsa, beat a child and kicked the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
Two days ago, right-wing politician Moshe Feiglin stopped at the compound’s doorway, further raising tensions.
A recent surge in violence in the occupied West Bank has fed worries that a new Palestinian uprising was developing. Obama is due to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank at the end of the month.
Related:
More photos: Israeli police clash with Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque
'A Palestinian Rosa Parks is needed': Israel's segregated buses spark outrage
A $1 billion bet on peace: Qatar funds huge Palestinian settlement in West Bank
This story was originally published on Fri Mar 8, 2013 7:28 AM EST
Leave a Comment:
I find the timing of Obama's visit interesting. No doubt he is concerned about safety issues, given all the political unrest going on in that area. Especially the fragile peace truce which hasn't been lasting. It doesn't seem the wisest time for an American President to be visiting anywhere in the Middle East right now.Let alone a country everyone would love to see wiped off the map. Seems a prime time for one of these countries to plan an attack, with the leader of the only super world power right in their neighborhood. This is going to be a security nightmare.Let's hope they put lots of those drones to good use.
"The latest clashes erupted in the wake of unconfirmed reports that an Israeli security guard entered Al-Aqsa, beat a child and kicked the Muslim holy book, the Quran."
The liklihood of this actually happening is about zero, unless the "child" was a bomb thrower. As far as kicking a Koran, that is highly unlikely as it would suggest the "child" left a Koran on the floor.
Great job at letting your personal bigoted views completely distort the story
"police entered Al-Aqsa after Palestinians threw stones and two firebombs at them."
If there are no clashes in a mosque then it is not a mosque!
In many places, Sunnis are blowing up Shiites/Sufis mosques along with their Qurans!
Fridays, prayer days and times are the preferred times for bomb blasts!!
Rocks will be replaced with tomatoes.
Maybe Mr. Obama will give Mrs. Clinton a quick call or tweet.
I am getting doubts: is it Quran or Koran or some thing else.
How it is written in right to left Muslim dictionary?
Wind Blower ; I find your statement ;" a country everyone would love to see wiped off the map. " interesting. You obviously have run a poll to get your numbers and information so as to include " EVERYONE " in your statement. Now there are approximately seven and one half billion people on this planet. Did you poll each and every one of these people to get your FACTS so as to say EVERYONE ? I do believe you may have gotten your education at the " TEA GARBAGE UNIVERSITY OF MY STUPID WAY OR THE GRAVE YARD."
"The latest clashes erupted in the wake of unconfirmed reports that an Israeli security guard entered Al-Aqsa, beat a child and kicked the Muslim holy book, the Quran."
No doubt the American press will blame the 'evil Palestinians' for STARTING the violence again.
What the heck are you talking about????
Israel is blamed for everything from pythons in Florida to alligators in the sewers in New Jersey.
Aaawwww...c'mon...is that all???!!!! Surely an Israeli security guard would have done a whole lot worse than that!!! yes...sarcasm.
Highly doubtful that any of this happened as is now being publicized. Can hardly wait to see what the real story is once the dust settles.
GM screminmimi & Windancersong.
Hi chefaz..
Kicked a Koran? Do you think they are trying to start an uncontrollable riot in Israel?
Bad, bad idea....
@Jonathan:
We could just call it the Quacker...
That almost sounds like Kick the Kan - a Twilight Zone Episode. Art imitating life or life imitating art???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOT6STrnRXk
If only the solutions to life's troubles were as simple with such a happy ending.
@Jonathan (#1.3): "Fridays, prayer days and times are the preferred times for bomb blasts!!" And the preferred occasions for homicide bombings are, for example, visits by foreign dignitaries, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and teenagers dancing in a night club on a Friday night.
Have a good weekend Jonathan and Chef and the other righteous amongst us.
"The latest clashes erupted in the wake of unconfirmed reports that an Israeli security guard entered Al-Aqsa, beat a child and kicked the Muslim holy book, the Quran." Yet another example of NBC's objective, unbiased reporting.
Imagine a world without religion. Seriously, close your eyes and envision....
Peace
Acceptance
Tolerance
Or we can continue to go about life like this...
Hatred
Hatred
Hatred
I like my way better...
@Basil Romeo
I agree MSNBC has a clear bias, but I don't understand your example - they state what the people believe to be true, and clearly state that it cannot be confirmed (i.e. may not be true). What do you want, exactly?
Can't keep blaming religion for creating the violence and hatred. It's just being used as the excuse for it. Even without it, someone would kill because one group liked monkey brains better than antelope meat.
The Mexicans are catholic and there isn't much leeway there, yet the cartels are killing each other and the civilians left and right, and not for religious reasons.
Nothing a well placed apology won't fix...
"Nothing a well-placed apology won't fix . . ."
What, something along the lines of,
"We're sorry you're two tribes of homicidal children whose imaginary friends don't get along."?
Or,
"We're sorry that after WWII we didn't create the new state of Isreal somewhere north of Manitoba."?
Or,
"We're sorry your lobby has so much money and influence on our government that we can't just ignore all of you until you wipe each other out like we do with the Africans."?
@McGee (#1.17): The "unconfirmed" part was the only unbiased word in the statement. What I'm referring to is their choice of words - "beat" (a child) and "kicked" (the Muslim holy book). Brings back memories of the centuries old false "blood libel" allegation that Jews murdered Christians, primarily children, and used their blood for ritual purposes. The word "kicked" could have been replaced with something more benign, such as "allegations that they treated the Koran disrespectfully" or "defiled the Koran," especially since these are only allegations. How something is said, rather than what is said, can make all the difference in the highly racist and bigoted world we live in.
Sorry it took so long to respond. Got home from work late.
Religious prayer places should be peaceful places where one can pray his/her own God.
Instead, if they become epicenter of problems like Al-Aqsa mosque, then it is better to close down such places.
In many places, all over the world mosques have become hate preaching, killer training and rioting centers.
Let us start liberation movements for closing down such liabilities.
If the contributions are negative to a place, why have such mosques?
One Israeli had an interesting idea: "take the Al-Aksa and Dome of the Rock mosques, put them inside an envelope and ship them to Mecca".
The Al-Aksa and Dome of the Rock worshippers could then try throwing rocks and molatov cocktales at the Saudi authorities and just see what happens to them over there!
This is all phony stuff.The Muslims have Mecca and Medina.The rest they conquered by the sword.The Jews and Christians have much more right to the Holy City.The Muslims have really very dubious claims And they built a mosque on top of a temple.. Let´s divide Mecca and Medina.The Jews get one half of one .the Christians half of another! Let´s see how they feel about that?
"bart....
I agree. Or blow it up and build a Christian/Hebrew Temple!
gm Windy
Note to NBC: You may want to take the word "iconic" out of the teaser. The icon is a religious symbol of the Eastern Orthodox Church. We wouldn't want to be perceived as insensitive to Muslims, would we?
Sounds like you've got a crusade against icons.
"I con dance if I wannu!"
"I con leave my cares behind."
"The latest clashes erupted in the wake of unconfirmed reports that an Israeli security guard entered Al-Aqsa, beat a child and kicked the Muslim holy book, the Quran."
Wonder, wonder!!
Religion of love and peace are giving importance to a "child" too!
The last time out the Secret Service got busted in booze drenched "Hey I picked her up 'cause I'm oh so suave" fiasco. This could get fugly. GM usual suspects, have a great day.
GM StonePipe and DB
Not a good time to visit the ME.
Reminiscent of the theater production of Ooooklahoma and the song "Oh the farmer and the cowman should be friends..." Just replace farmer & cowman with Muslim and Jew
And it is true....And the winds come whistlin' down the Plains.....yesterday I thought I heard a train and I'm about 8 miles from the nearest track!
The muslims act like "Marvin the Martian" and destroy everything they can get their hands on. You know it's just a matter of time and their camel mounted "P-52 Space Rockets" will be pointed at this holy site as well.
"A recent surge in violence in the occupied West Bank has fed worries that a new Palestinian uprising was developing. Obama is due to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank at the end of the month."
This time "buying" rates for pleasing Palestinians are going to be higher!
So more of our tax monies are going to be into dirtiest drains!
Bluto..: When many Muslims ME nations are battling to tear everything to pieces, how can there be peace?
In Iraq and Syria there was peace earliers. Now each sect/tribe are battling each other.
Stonepipe; Yes, you do sound a little off track. Just a joke Just a joke, Sorry, I just couldn't pass that one up. No harm intended.
gm Stonepipe, DB, jack
Hope you all have a great weekend coming up
Ditto that. ☺
None taken, Just me. Ala Josie Wales. Hi Chef and Mimmi!
Alright, I've just spent the last 10 minutes looking for the smiley face key, and dammit I don't have one.
You mean like this one??? ☺ You DO have the smiley key!!!
☺
Alt and the number 1 or you could do alt + 2☻ or alt + 3 ♥, etc.
BUT
if you post your comment and then go back to make changes...all this crap is what you get. Give it a try stonepipe. ☺
☺
This is all being staged for Obama's visit. President Abbas (whose term expired in 2009) wants the U.S. to focus on them and not Iran or Syria. He wants Obama to pressure Israel to stop settlement building, withdraw to the pre-'67 lines, and free all Palestinian prisoners. None of that is going to happen, so protests will be staged to show how unhappy they are.
Who cares? Besides politics and wisdom will work together when the jews and palestinians do. Ain't gonna happen.
LOL! Sounds like a recipe for disaster!
Tear this place and others like it down, so people can move on with their lives...sheesh.
"right-wing politician Moshe Feiglin stopped at the compound’s doorway, further raising tensions."
These mosques should have a list of groups not permitted!
When Mohammed Ahmedjand/Ahmedband of Iran visited Egypt's oldest mosque, there were demonstrations.
When these Palestinians throw rocks or fire rockets, I thought they are brave.
Are they so scarred/hate one Moshe Feiglin? Then is it a praying place?
It is better to tear down all such mosques all over the world.
Just to point out the continued "Media Bias" with this this article.. "East Jerusalem" is a newly minted word used frequently to disassociate Jews from 3,500 years of history.. It should be called JERUSALEM.. Jews were in fact the MAJORITY of Jerusalem's population since the 1800's. Only for 19 years between 1948-67 when five Arab countries (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan Saudi Arabia and Egypt) declared war against Israel, where Jews were forced to leave Jerusalem. It was again liberated in 1967. And has since regained it's religious freedom and importance to ALL religions. For there was no religious freedom for any religion but Islam, during Jordan's short 19 year captivity from 1948-67.. Which also brings the fact that Palestinian-Arabs Never For Even One Day, ruled Jerusalem. Ever in the city's 3,000 year history!
ALSO, No mention that this Al-Aqsa mosque was built originally in 700 AD, and re-built many times since.. And it was built purposely on the Jewish Temple site (and also historic Christian site).. There is much history beneath the site of this Arab mosque. But it certainly is Jewish and Christian history..
The other newly minted word from the 1950's used to disassociate Jews from their land is "West-Bank".. No such place ever existed.. Even the United Nations referred to this as JUDEA-SAMERIA.. And that was exactly what it was called for the past 3,500 years..
Who cares.
Blutowski 4.0 ; So, who cares that you care? Just asking.
Asking what?
Excellent piece of revisionist history. I note you use the word liberated in place of stolen. what a crock.
What reviinist history are you talking about Truthseeker? Several of the points he made are found in books that predate the refounding of Israel in 1948. Are you claiming Jews have time machines and are slipping back and rewriting things? How about the land deeds and other records from british mandate period? Given the fact the british were sideing with the arabs before and after partion becaue of OIL I don't think you can claim there fakes too.
The UN and the International court both ruled Arab rule from 1948 to 1967 as a occuiption. Jordan and the people that moved into the seized properity had no leagl rights to it. The palestinian can not use the 48 to 67 years to claim anything. They can only claim what land was owned before 1948.
... and the Temple of God shall be rebuilt in all its glory!
The president should not be visiting freakville, those people are still residing in the trees...
For such a HOLY site to Jews and Muslims wouldn't it be nice if they could, "just all get along"?
I know this sounds cruel, but this constant violence between the three Abrahamic faiths has become tiresome and repulsive to those of us who don't share these religions. They always claim their supposed superiority to each other and to those of us in nonAbrahamic religions, yet seem to be only superior in their ability to inflict injury and vile hatred towards one another and towards other faith. Only look at the daily news around the world and you have to reach the realization that there just might be something dysfunctional and dangerous in their tendency towards making their customary monocentric/monotheistic absolutism a way of life.
It gets even better. How about one of these religions not being able to along with itself?
Look here: www.thereligionofpeace.com
Or North Ireland?
Jewish god versus Muslim god... Hate to break it to ya, but both sides are living in the past. Neither "god" exists. If your god(s) really existed, then he would have rained holy fire down on one side or the other in order to establish a single "god" oriented religion. As it stands, the two religions have to compete with the money grabbing vatican "pope". He who wears the pointy hat, collects much money. The catholics are big on idol worship, having many statues of saints in their churches.
LordPyrinc, You sound like the perverts here in America tell everyone, "you have do as I say or I will attack you in every manner!"
Or is possible you have listened to so many Dem o rats you can no longer believe in or respect anyone or religion??
I think what LordPyrinc is getting at is that there are all these stories of God(s) performing miracles, appearing, etc and that at this point in time, with so many religions blesphemizing their own God and causing harm to those believing in another and damage to holy sites, etc...one could be led to think if there were one God, He'd come on down to protect His people, His religion, etc and get His creation of Earth, people, etc going in the right direction. But from how it seems, God doesn't really care that much and will let His people be tortured, murdered, etc and His religion and name be destroyed.
@Ed Poko
Interesting to learn that *some* Conservatives will side with their Muslim counterparts when push comes to shove.
You guys are always complaining that Christianity is unfairly singled out - now when someone bashes religions equally you still have your panties in a knot.
DOUBLE POST - DELETED
For goodness sakes, people this is 2013 not the 12th century. STOP FIGHTING!! We in the US are sick to death of this and it is costing us BILLIONS of dollars keeping you 2 religions from breaking out into all out war! Enough is enough, the US should give each side tanks, missiles, guns bombs and put both armies in the deepest part of a desert and let them duke it out. When it's over it's over like back in the day you shake hands and become friends. This is 2013 and the US is TIRED of being the middle east's babysitter!
Yes Yes, please stop fighting and act like we do here in the U.S. OOPS ! Maybe that was the wrong thing to say. Now the fighting will really increase.
Yahweh and Allah, in their cultural origins, were/are tribal desert/thunder gods whose devotees have yet to outgrow the inherent violence of those origins, and I doubt if they ever will. Christianity was able to temper this influence with its adaptation of Greek philosophy from Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus and Augustine, but is often as murderously violence prone as Judaism and Islam when it comes to matters of interfaith converse. I just have my doubts that Judaism, Christianity and Islam will ever evolve beyond these impulses towards conflict and religious imperialism on any broadscale. I just don't see it happening, at least not among the common man among them.
Well.... I don't think the Judaic religions have a patent on violence. It seems the Hindus and Budhists have their fair share of it as well. The utter disregard for the human condition in India is shocking, as is the sect of Durga Devotees that sacrifice disabled children (just sick)... It all goes back to the fact none of these religions actually follow what their founders preached...
Vinayaka,
From your posts and the fact that your name is a synonym for Ganesha, I am assuming you are Hindu.
If so, you should probably come down off your high horse and quit bashing the Abrahamic religions.
Because all of these religions are based upon the interpretations of men, extremism will always exist and be justified as righteous as it fits the twisted translations and values of truly sick individuals.
Let's just look at a few recent events that are examples of Hindu violence:
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
1987 Hashimpura massacre
1992-93 Bombay Riots
2002 Gujarat Violence
Just to name a few, and that doesn't take into account the grave human right violations in India, nor the increase in violence against non-Hindu peoples in India in the last 10 years.
So I'll say it again, it doesn't matter if you worship one god or a thousand, as long as people believe in the words of men and follow them blindly, there will always be religous extremism.
ZDub: It is better that people don't get hung up on Gods and religion too much.
Gods and religion should be kept at homes and praying places and no where else.
Religion is opium of masses.
Too much of addiction as in the case of many Muslims is like high dosage heroin addictions.
How can one imagine Muslims blowing up Sufi prayer places?
As you are aware Sufis are exceptional love and peace Muslims.
First they rob the Palestinians of their homeland, not to mention the ethnic cleansing. Now, arresting "someone for stone throwing", while these soldiers carry assault rifles.
Israel is the biggest terrorist and racist organization in the world. Don't confuse Judaism with Zionism. Dr. Norman Finkelstein, a Phd graduate of Princeton and a scholar on Israeli Palestine conflicts, exposes this racism and fraud at detail in his well documented books.
Where do you want your delivery..of..ZXYCLON-B...?
Same as last time..? by The Showers..?
An OBAMAIN NAZI...
@aliblahblah
He explicitly states that he's not attacking Judaism in general, yet you still pull out the Holocaust card?
You pro-Israel ideologues are no better than certain Democrats always citing racism...
Funny. It's a mosque, but also considered a major religious site by the Jews, but if a Jew wanders by, there's a riot. Sounds like the UN just needs to declare this a World Heritage site and ban EVERYONE from ever going inside. The major conflict in that region of the world is between Muslims and Jews over the same physical property. If it were all preserved and made inaccessible to ALL of them, maybe things would change. Maybe not. Just blow it all up.
OBAMA
THE
SULTAN
OF
SOCIALISM
THE
GREAT
WIZARD,-in-Chief
Verbal diarrhea!!!
Breaking News.
.
Obama Cancels..Yearly PILGRIMAGE..To MECCA..
will only Have ..layover ...in Moscow..to lay a wreath..at LENIN's TOMB
Aliblahblah, I understand you graduated summa cum laude at the DouchBag Academy, as well as being valedictorian. That's quite a accomplishment for an insect like you.
Let the poor besieged Muslims have their Intifada. Those wonderful people of the religion of peace and love are just looking for a way to love you to death. In the future historians will look back and say, "there used to be this religion known as Islam, but they killed each other off due to being so full of hate towards themselves and others that killing was all they could do." They essentially made themselves extinct.
William!!! How soon can we look forward to this extinction taking place. I am getting excited just thinking about it happening!!!!
You are so right!
Take a look at this site: www.thereligionofpeace.com
All three Abrahamic religions are simply varying degrees of intolerant, bigoted, bullying attitudes, and root of the worse evil of all; religious fanaticism.
Well if they just followed the teachings of their founders things would be fine. This is more an indictment of the egomaniacs that have twisted the faiths for their own benefit.
Jersey - within all of their "holy" books, it basically says about the same type of thing - put no other God before, kill those that do - paraphrasing, of course.
Re-read those "holy" books and actually think to yourself - would I literally follow these words?
The world would be better off if all these sites were destroyed. Leveled to the ground without a trace.
AH! What the hell... The peaceful and tolerant Muslims were having female problems and needed something to take their minds (?) off their immediate problem.
Benjamin Netanyahu should be kissing Obama's butt but he won't
America created the current state of Israel after WW2 and it has been nothing but a problems for us ever since
It is ridiculous what we put up for the sake of campaign contributions.
"America created the current state of Israel after WW2 and it has been nothing but a problems for us ever since" so you say Lefty Realist.
You display a complete lack of historical knowledge with that statement. Israel was created by the people who live there, not by America. Israel has been a good ally to the United States for the past 64 years, especially during the cold war when it shared intelligence from captured Soviet aircraft, tanks, and other weapons captured. It has shared intelligence about Middle Eastern threats to the US during its entire existence. It has helped save American GIs lives during the Iraq war with major improvements in body and tank armor. It helped develop drone technology widely used by the US armed forces and certain night vision/optical improvements. It has developed many high tech products and health products used widely in the US and elsewhere to improve people's lives.
You need to educate yourself better on this subject before commenting, but people with views like you do not normally let facts get in their way.
Well said in your post #24.1, OCstar!
It's interesting to see the obvious slant of NBC towards the towelheads. The same news story in fox news is titled "Israeli police enter Jerusalem holy site to disperse hundreds of rock-throwing Palestinians"
Fox is a propaganda network. NBC = real journalism.
Then go back to theblaze.com and buy sell some gold coins while your at it.
Fox News viewer statistically the least informed viewers
Did you really say - NBC = real journalism? Now, that's funny. Look, I do think Fox is worse, but there is very little to no "real journalism" anymore.
Look at something such as 9/11 - I'd love to see a "real journalist" look into that, but there has never been one story besides the official story done by any of these big news corporations. Woodward and Bernstein would have never broke Watergate in this day and age.