Violent Demonstrations, Near Riots over Temple Mount Prayer Issue

Violent demonstrations and near riots flared in most major West Bank towns and in East Jerusalem over the weekend as high school students and other local youths continued to protest a recent decision by a Jerusalem magistrate that would allow Jewish prayer services on the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem, an Islamic shrine. Although the government has appealed the decision and promised that police would enforce the ban on Jewish religious rites on the Temple Mount, the demonstrations have increased rather than diminished.

Several policemen were injured in Nablus and 40 local youths were arrested after police battled stone-throwing mobs with clubs and tear gas. There were similar demonstrations in Ramallah and the Military Government yesterday imposed a ban on residents of those towns prohibiting them from visiting Jordan or receiving visitors from Jordan. Israeli authorities said the ban would be lifted as soon as conditions returned to normal.

Demonstrations also occurred in Jericho where several people were arrested, and in Hebron where youths stoned a tourist bus and hurled rocks at police yesterday. Police prevented attempts to organize demonstrations yesterday in Jenin and Tulkarm.

The disturbances began in East Jerusalem after the Friday noon services at the F1 Skye Mosque on the Temple Mount. High school boys and girls rampaged through the narrow streets and alleys of the Old City forcing shopkeepers to close their businesses and driving peddlers from the streets.

West Bank merchants blame the Supreme Moslem Committee for the disturbances which have resulted in a loss of business. A meeting was held at the Nablus town hall yesterday at which local dignitaries called on all citizens and especially the local youth to return to normal life.