JERUSALEM
Israeli settlers and extremists on Sunday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) under the watchful eyes of Israeli police.
"The settlers stormed the compound through the Dung Gate," Al-Aqsa compound guard Othman Abu Gharbiye told Anadolu Agency.
"Police prevented dozens of the students from entering the compound," said the guard.
He added that Israeli police arrested two teachers Hanadi al-Hilwani, 36, and Zena Amro,40, in addition to 22-year-old student Alaa Abu Alheja.
"Police took the three detainees for interrogations," said the guard.
Mahmoud Abu Ata, the media officer for Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage, confirmed the Israeli aggression.
"Dozens of settlers desecrated the Al Aqsa Mosque today," he told AA.
The Dung Gate which is always used by settlers when storming Al- Aqsa Mosque leads directly to the Buraq Wall, which Jews calls the "Wailing Wall."
Settlers were led by Jewish extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick, the chairman of the so-called Temple Mount Heritage Fund.
Yehuda Glick has recently ended a 12-day hunger strike after Israeli police confirmed to him that he would be allowed to enter the holy site, according to the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
In recent weeks, groups of Jewish settlers – often accompanied by Israeli security forces – have repeatedly entered the Aqsa Mosque complex.
The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent clashes inside the mosque compound.
Al-Aqsa is the third holiest shrine in Islam.
Jews refer to Al-Aqsa as the "Temple Mount," claiming the area was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
By Anees Barghouthi
