Over 225 Jewish settlers including right-wing officials desecratedthe Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards on Wednesday morning under tight policeprotection.
Local media sources said the Israeli police provided specialsecurity escort for groups of settlers as they were touring the Mosque’scourtyards to mark the Hebrew Passover festival.
Meanwhile the police intensified their presence in eastJerusalem turning the Old City and its vicinity into a military outpost andrestricting the movement of Palestinian citizens and vehicles.
The police have closed since Tuesday evening the Mosque tomany Palestinian Muslim worshipers especially the young people prompting themto perform prayers on nearby streets.
The police had already detained many Jerusalemite citizensand banned dozens including Aqsa employees from entering the Mosque duringrecent days and on the eve of the Passover holiday.
