Palestinian protests pass off peacefully

JERUSALEM, DEC. 1. Palestinians demonstrated in front of the Al Aqsa mosque in the old city of Jerusalem after the first Friday prayers of the Ramzan, but Israeli police positioned just outside the mosque compound did not intervene, as fears of another flare- up of violence eased.

Two months of Palestinian rioting began at the mosque compound after the hard-line Israeli politician, Mr. Ariel Sharon, visited on September 28 to emphasise Israel's claim to the site, which is also the location of the biblical Jewish temples.

Mr. Sharon and the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak, have embarked on an election campaign, with prospects for a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians the main issue.

Police said about 100,000 worshippers prayed at Al Aqsa after Israel eased restrictions, permitting all Muslims with Israeli identity cards - those with Israeli citizenship and Palestinians who live in Jerusalem - to enter. But witnesses said the crowd was much smaller. A Palestinian official said only 15,000 people attended.

After services, Palestinians marched in the plaza in front of the mosque, shouting slogans. Some threw rocks toward the police gathered just outside a gate leading to the compound, but the police did not respond. Muslim officials and Palestinian security officers kept the demonstrators away from the Israeli forces.

Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza were banned from the mosque. About 300 Palestinians, shouting ``We want to pray at Al Aqsa,'' pushed through an Israeli army checkpoint south of Jerusalem. Soldiers closed off a nearby intersection with jeeps and pushed the Palestinians back.

Also, several hundred Palestinians demonstrated outside the old city. Police rode horses into the demonstration, knocking people over, and the protesters threw rocks.

On September 29, the day after Mr. Sharon's visit, Israeli police stormed the Al Aqsa compound to break up a demonstration, killing six Palestinians, setting off riots throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Police then banned young Palestinians from praying at the mosque on Fridays.

Pressure from Muslim leaders to allow their people to pray at Islam's third holiest place during Ramzan, and Mr. Barak's desire to relax sanctions, apparently led to the decision to ease restrictions.

In another gesture, Israel allowed the Palestinian airport in Gaza to reopen. A Jordanian plane landed on Friday morning. Israel closed the airport more than a month ago, citing security problems. The Palestinian civil aviation head, Mr. Fayez Zaidan, asked Israel to open roadblocks to allow people to reach the airport, in the southeast corner of Gaza.

Mr. Barak's reelection bid depends on reaching a new accord with the Palestinians, analysts say. Mr. Barak reluctantly agreed to early elections, expected to take place in May, though he was due to serve until 2003.

Mr. Barak launched a trial balloon - a staged peace plan. He said he would recognise a Palestinian state with contiguous areas in the West Bank, while putting off the future of Jerusalem.

- AP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Lone's call to Pak., militants
Next     : CIS forms unit to fight terrorism