Violence at Jerusalem holy site raises fears of escalation
By ISABEL DEBRE and FARES AKRAM
Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, firing stun grenades and beating Palestinian youths who hurled stones and firecrackers in a burst of violence during a sensitive holiday seasons. Palestinian militants in Gaza responded with rocket fire on southern Israel, prompting repeated Israeli airstrikes. The violence came as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan and Jews prepare to celebrate Passover. Such confrontations at the contested holy compound have sparked deadly cross-border wars between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers in the past.
