Israeli Excavation and Construction Project at Al Aqsa ---Why Now?--- W/Updates...

Violence erupted after the morning prayers, 3000 Israeli police were deployed in anticipation of the protest. Police used stun grenades and tear gas to control the violence of the protesters. A number of protesters have barricaded themselves in the Al Aqsa mosque. At a checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem another clash between protesters and police ended with at least 1 injured.

Violence Breaks Out

Stone-throwing worshipers are scuffling with Israeli police at a revered mosque, and witnesses say police have been using stun grenades and tear gas. Police report several people have been injured on both sides.

Israeli army and police attack Palestinian worshipers in Jerusalem

Eyewitnesses stated that massive Israeli forces invaded the main yard of the mosque and started to fire live rounds, tear gas and sound bombs at the civilians shortly after the Friday prayers finished.

Medical sources reported a number of injuries due to gas inhalation, and fractures due to the usage of excusive force against civilians.

Violence breaks out at disputed Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hundreds of angry Islamic worshippers threw stones and scuffled with police on Friday in an eruption of outrage over contentious Israeli renovation work at a disputed Old City holy site.
About 200 police streamed on to the hilltop compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, to try to quell the violence, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Witnesses said police hurled stun grenades

Clashes erupt at Qalandia checkpoint, one Palestinian injured

The clashes started as part of the protests against the controversial digging around al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Israel police, Arabs clash on Temple Mount

The protesters clashed with police, who used stun grenades to control the crowd. The BBC said tear gas and rubber bullets were also wielded by police, who made a number of arrests during the clashes.

EDIT: add story

[edit on 2007/2/9 by JacKatMtn]

The Dome of the Rock should have free access for all Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Muslims bully the rest of the world with this is the 3rd holy site, this is the 5th holy site and then they blow each other up fighting over them!

IMHO

If everyone would just believe in God, instead of Jesus, Muhammad, Budha, etc. we would all be better off! We let our differences divide us instead of letting what we have in common unite us! That is the true devil!

[edit on 2/9/07 by mel1962]

Here's an update. Looks like they are suspending work... for now.

Jerusalem mayor suspends renovations near mosque

The mayor of Jerusalem has decided to suspend renovations near the revered Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the city's Old Town that have sparked violent clashes between Palestinian protestors and police, Israeli military radio reported.

It looks like they are stopping the use of the heavy excavation equipment but they are continuing the archeological dig at the site which could on for several months.

Those opposed to the project want ALL digging to stop.

Jerusalem mayor to consult on holy site plans

Israeli media reports said that in practice, the decision to hold hearings on the project would ensure that mechanical digging equipment -- whose presence raised Arab ire -- would be removed from the area.

"The Israelis have not stopped digging, they simply completed the phase of digging using bulldozers," said Rafiq Husseini, chief of staff to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The digging must stop in order to create a positive atmosphere for reviving the peace process."

While the "rock throwing" protests continue an article says that the dig has uncovered a large wall which is believed to date to the early Islamic Umayyad period, with the hope to unearth earlier Byzantine era structures one of which is the second temple.

One disturbing quote from the article:

"That cursed Israel is trying to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque," claimed Mohammed el-Katani. "Nothing will work with Israel except for a nuclear bomb that wipes it out of existence."

Seems like that nuclear word is being tossed about TOO easily these days....

Violence Persists As Preparatory Work Continues At Jerusalem Renovation Site

The muslims have no right to build a mosque on the old temple mount. This is just more thievery of religous sites by islam.

Anyway, the prophecy states that there will be a third temple(jewish) erected on the temple mount and that will signal the end times. Id imagine the al aqsa mosque is destroyed before this prophecy can be fulfilled.

Israel is halting the "bridge building" portion of the project near Al Aqsa as a result of continued protests.

The archeological dig will continue in its efforts to make sure no important remains are damaged.

Israel drops construction plan near al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel decided on Tuesday to give up building a new bridge near Islam's third holiest shrine of al-Aqsa Mosque following protests of Muslim and Arab countries, local media reported.

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
Anyway, the prophecy states that there will be a third temple(jewish) erected on the temple mount and that will signal the end times. Id imagine the al aqsa mosque is destroyed before this prophecy can be fulfilled.

THe christian prophecy says this, yes. What right do christians have to the temple mount? They have less of a claim to it than the muslims, who, again, have a good claim. THeir prophet ascended to heaven at that site, and in his lifetime, muslims faced jerusalem when praying, christians never did this.

Streaming webcam video is now active in an effort to quell rumors of Israel trying to damage the holy site.

In addition a Turkish technical team will inspect the site announced at a joint press conference in Ankarra where the Israeli Prime minister is visiting.

Webcams broadcast Israeli dig
Streaming video of several angles of the dig site were seen on Israel's Antiquities Authority's website www.antiquities.org.il... .

Turkey to Inspect Jerusalem Holy Site
Mr. Olmert stated that Israel has "nothing to hide" about the work being done at the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. He presented photos of the repair work on an entry ramp and archaeological excavations, which he said is taking place outside the compound area.

UNESCO files report on the dig at Al Aqsa site, they say no damage is being done but urge Israel to stop the dig until a further investigation can be completed.

UNESCO claims digging does not harm Temple Mount

While the four-member team that compiled the report stated that the excavation does not cause damage, Israeli officials feels the report sends “mixed messages” as UNESCO says one thing and writes another.

UNESCO spokeswoman Sue Williams said the organization would not comment on the report until after the executive board meeting that is slated for April 10.