Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., September 05, 2008 Elul 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:59 (EST+7)
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Palestinian worshipers stand in a crowd as they wait to cross an IDF checkpoint in Bethlehem on Friday. (AP)
Last update - 14:44 05/10/2007
Thousands of Palestinians crowd checkpoints to reach Ramadan prayer site
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel, Al Aqsa, Ramadan 

Thousands of Palestinians thronged military checkpoints on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Friday, trying to reach a major Muslim shrine in the city for Ramadan prayers despite an Israel Defense Forces closure.

IDF troops were deployed at crossing points from the West Bank into Jerusalem to control the crowds trying to get to the Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws to a close next week.

At the Qalandiyah checkpoint north of Jerusalem, harried troops waved clubs, shouted and occasionally used stun grenades as Palestinians surged toward the roadblock. One elderly man fainted, and was treated by an IDF medic on the scene. No serious injuries were reported.
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Friday prayers at Al Aqsa regularly draw thousands of worshippers, and crowds are bigger than usual during Ramadan.

Israel placed a closure on the West Bank last week citing concern of possible attacks during the seven-day Jewish festival of Sukkot. The festival ended Thursday, and the closure was set to be lifted Saturday night, an IDF spokesperson said.

According to the closure orders, police were to allow passage to West Bank men over the age of 50 and women over 40, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. More than 3,000 police were stationed around Jerusalem's Old City to prevent disturbances during the prayers, he said.

At Qalandiyah, north of Jerusalem, hundreds of Palestinians, most of them elderly, pushed toward troops controlling access to the passage and argued with police checking ID cards.

Maher Walweil, 43, said he left his home in the West Bank city of Nablus at 4 A.M. to get to Jerusalem in time for prayers despite being aware of the age restrictions.

"There's a lot of soldiers here. What am I going to do against these soldiers?" he said
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  1.   Last year 12:37  |  jackie 05/10/07
  2.   It`s a shame that the Palestinians must endure this. 12:42  |  Yered Shmuel 05/10/07
  3.   Jewish and Muslim never ending headaches 12:43  |  Palestinian 05/10/07
  4.   What a shame act 13:49  |  Fali 05/10/07
  5.   #3 - GOOD IDEA 13:55  |  SM 05/10/07
  6.   Brilliant Idea 14:16  |  JDM 05/10/07
  7.   ,en Under 50, women under 40 14:39  |  Omran 05/10/07
  8.   We shouldn`t allow ANY of these Arabs in 15:01  |  Dani 05/10/07
  9.   Fali and GOD 15:46  |  Lynn 05/10/07
  10.   to Palestinian#3 15:46  |  Ilya 05/10/07
  11.   Fali # 4 15:59  |  ChanahS 05/10/07
  12.   One of the foundations of democracy 17:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/10/07
  13.   Whiners and Hypocrites 17:50  |  Joel 05/10/07
  14.   Whiners and Hypocrites #2 18:00  |  Joel 05/10/07
  15.   What about the Dome of the Rock? 18:49  |  Jack 05/10/07
  16.   Would Haaretz 18:57  |  Scharker Yid 05/10/07
  17.   The Major Mosque in the City 19:00  |  Roland 05/10/07
  18.   Lynn #9 19:11  |  Richelle 05/10/07
  19.   Jackie No1 19:37  |  Palestinian Brit 05/10/07
  20.   Rachel`s Tomb. Hebron. 16 19:40  |  Palestinian Brit 05/10/07
  21.   Chris Linthwaste is back 20:15  |  Mark 05/10/07
  22.   #17 Roland 20:50  |  Rudy 05/10/07
  23.   #4, Fali... 05:45  |  Silvienne 06/10/07
  24.   #12, Chris Linthwaite... 05:49  |  Silvienne 06/10/07
  25.   Ramadan prayer site 00:12  |  cristo 07/10/07
  26.   #17 - Reading disability Roland? 06:02  |  JES 08/10/07
  27.   Linthwaite`s freedom of religion 02:33  |  utagawa 05/09/08
  28.   Pal Brit 02:38  |  utagawa 05/09/08
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