Palestinians battle Israeli police

JERUSALEM, SEPT. 28. At least 30 persons were injured in clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators today at Jerusalems's holiest site, the Al-aqsa mosque compound.

According to official estimates, at least 25 policemen and five demonstrators were injured in the fighting which erupted as the hardline Israeli Opposition leader, Mr. Ariel Sharon visited the site which is also known as Temple Mount. Hundreds of demonstrators protested against the visit off the Likud party chairman and other party members to the compound that contains two of Islam's most venerated mosques, as well as being Judaism's holiest site.

Mr. Sharon had just left when protesters broke through barriers and pelted police with stones. The police responded with teargas and metal-coated rubber bullets. Mr. Sharon spent the rest of his controversial visit walking in the open courtyard unable to enter any of Muslim sites before ending his visit. Israel says it will not give up sovereignty over what it refers to as Temple Mount, which it occupied in 1967, while Palestinians say they will not accept any peace solution that would not return East Jerusalem, including Al-Haram area, to their sovereignty.

Barak for twin capitals

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak has said that if a peace agreement is signed with the Palestinians, it will include Jerusalem and Al-quds as two capitals, according to the Jerusalem Post today.

It is the first time Mr. Barak has spoken publicly of Jerusalem and Al-quds as separate entities, and of Al-quds as capital of a future Palestinian entity. ``I do not know if there will be an agreement,'' Mr. Barak told the Post in an exclusive interview. ``But if there is an agreement it will include an end to the conflict, permanent borders for Israel recognised by the world, 80 per cent of the settlers in Judea and Samaria under Israeli sovereignty in settlement blocks, security arrangements, principally along the eastern border''.

- DPA

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Run-off election a sham, says U.S.