ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES CLASH WITH PALESTINIAN WORSHIPERS IN AL AQSA MOSQUE

Israeli forces clash with Palestinian worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque compound following Friday prayers on March 8, 2013. Al Quds, 27 Rabiul Akhir 1434/9 March 2013 (MINA) – Israeli forces have clashed with Palestinian worshippers near the al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), casualties reported, according to Al Akhbar and Press TV reports monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) Saturday.

       Witnesses say Israeli forces fired stun grenades near the mosque on Friday to disperse Palestinian worshippers who were protesting against the recent desecration of the Muslims holy book, the Qur’an, by an Israeli soldier.
       Palestinians retaliated by hurling rocks and firebombs.
       Over a dozen protesters and several Israeli policemen are reported to be injured in the clashes.
       According to Palestinian sources, Israeli forces stormed a session of Qur’an recitation in al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday and an Israeli soldier kicked a copy of the holy book and trampled on it.
       The Arab League and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, have also condemned the Israeli soldier’s desecration of the Qur’an.
       In a Monday statement, Hezbollah called on all Muslim nations to take a harsh stance against the insulting move that drew widespread condemnation.

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Israeli forces on Friday fired tear gas and stun grenades at hundreds of worshippers at Jerusalem’s Aqsa mosque, injuring some, activists said, while a funeral procession in the West Bank was also attacked by the Israeli army.

Witnesses in Jerusalem posted photos and videos online showing dozens of riot police storming the compound and attacking crowds.

They wrote on Twitter that forces entered the mosque immediately after Friday prayers and assaulted worshippers. One person tweeted that a carpet at the entrance of the mosque caught fire. (T/P04/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)