JERUSALEM: Israel has deployed more than 1,300 police to deal with possible violence as Muslim worshippers flock to a hotly contested holy site in Jerusalem for weekly prayers.Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says the officers were deployed Friday "to maintain law and order in the area."
The deployment came two days after riot police clashed with Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third- holiest shrine. Samri said worshippers Friday would be limited to women and men over 35.
Israeli-Palestinian confrontations have been escalating in Jerusalem, including near-daily clashes between stone-throwing Palestinians and Israeli riot police. Palestinians have also carried out two deadly vehicle attacks in recent weeks.
At one access road leading to Al-Aqsa, some 500 young Palestinians knelt in prayer in front of dozens of black-garbed Israeli riot police.
AP/ZA