Israel Prohibits non-Muslim Prayers at Holy Site During Muslim Holiday
- Updated Sep 24, 2015
Israel has implemented harsher police measures to combat the surge of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
ABC News reports that Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man on the West Bank last week in a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
Harassment and stone-throwing have been issues between Israelis and Palestinians as they wrestle over territory that each group claims as its own.
In response to the issue, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated "We intend to change the norm that has become established here, that the state of Israel allows these deadly and murderous objects to be thrown without response and without being thwarted.”
The Israeli government also said it would crack down on Israeli stone-throwing violence by imposing stricter punishments on those who engage in the violence, even holding minors and their parents responsible.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld stated that the new security measures and harsher rules mean that "Police officers have further tools that can be used in life-threatening situations only."
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel for all the violence occurring near the holy sites. "They are all ours and we will not let them desecrate it with their filthy feet," he said.
Israeli police continue to try to curb the violence. They have banned all non-Muslims from entering a holy site Thursday during a Muslim holiday.
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia
Publication date: September 24, 2015
