With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit the Kotel and the Old City this week, Jerusalem police on Sunday decided to close the Temple Mount – both to visitors and Muslim worshippers – after leaflets were distributed in Arab neighborhoods near the Old City calling on Muslims to "come and defend the mountain." The leaflets were given large amounts of exposure in local Arab media, and police are seeking to prevent Arab riots, especially on Monday, when the mass Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing) takes place at the Kotel.
The latest unrest stems to an incident on Yom Kippur eve, when a group of tourists on the Temple Mount were stoned by Arab rioters. Police closed the Mount to all visitors, but rioting by Arabs continued throughout the day.