Palestinians and Israeli police clash at major holy site

By JOSEPH KRAUSS
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinians and Israeli police have clashed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a major holy site in Jerusalem. More than 150 Palestinians were wounded in the violence and Israeli police fired tear gas. Israeli authorities say Palestinians threw rocks at police after dawn prayers on Friday, igniting the clashes. Palestinians view the deployment of Israeli police at the site as a provocation. Order was later restored and tens of thousands of worshippers attended Friday prayers at midday. Tensions have soared in recent weeks amid a series of deadly attacks in Israel and military raids across the occupied West Bank. Last year, protests and clashes in and around Al-Aqsa helped ignite an 11-day Gaza war.