TEHRAN, YJC. -- The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned Israeli police who fired stun grenades to disperse Palestinian woshippers who had thrown rocks at them after Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.
"We strongly condemn the Israeli forces who violated international law by raiding one of Islam’s holiest sites and preventing Muslims from performing their religious duty,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday, adding that Turkey is closely monitoring increasing attacks by Israeli forces against sacred sites of Muslims.
Dozens of Israeli officers entered the politically sensitive area, one of Islam's holiest sites, to break up several hundred protesters.
A number of policemen were slightly hurt, a police spokesman said, and Palestinian media said at least 15 protesters were injured.
A surge in violence in the occupied West Bank over the past several weeks has raised concern in Israel that a new Palestinian uprising could erupt.
TodaysZaman