Israeli border police guarding the entrance to the Tomb of the Patrlarchs in the West Bank town of Hebron last week shot and killed a Palestinian who threw battery acid in their faces and attempted to stab them.
Three policemen were slightly injured in last Friday’s incident, which marked the third violent confrontation between Israeli security forces and militant Palestinians in the area last week.
The attacker was identified as Ghazi Haymouni, 24, from Hebron. According to military sources, Haymouni was a supporter of the Islamic fundamentalist Hamas movement.
Israeli police found on his body a copy of the Koran and a supply of knives.
On Saturday, Israeli settlers attempted to break into the Tomb of the Patriarchs, which has been closed since last February, when a Jewish settler killed 29 Muslims who were worshiping at the site.
The settlers, who were turned back by Israeli troops, said the latest incident outside the tomb proved that the site should be opened to Jewish worshipers immediately. They argued that it was more dangerous for them to be outside the place of worship than inside, which would be under police protection.
The site was due to be reopened to both Jewish and Muslim worshipers by the end of October, but security sources are now saying the recent unrest may cause further delays.
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