Female Islamist activists on Temple Mount
Female Islamist activists on Temple MountReuters

As Arab violence on the Temple Mount continued with yet another attack on Israeli police Sunday, several Arabs movements in Israel have urged Muslims to go and defend the compound from Jews. 

The radical northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee (HAMC), which represents Arab communities in Israel, called on Muslims across the country to make their way to Jerusalem. 

AFP correspondents saw around 150 people at the compound, which also houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, sporting green Islamic Movement caps on Sunday.

"We're going to stay here for the whole day, we want to prevent the Jews from attacking Al-Aqsa," an Arab Israeli woman who gave her name as Hala told AFP.

It should be noted, however, that the Mount was closed on Sunday to Jewish visitors entirely in anticipation of more unrest. 

MKs from the Arab Joint List party, meanwhile, ascended the Mount on Sunday in support of the ban on Jewish visitors and worship, in their latest stunt to oppose Jewish visits to the holy site. 

Islamic Movement official Sheikh Qairi Eskender spoke to AFP, asserting, "We're afraid they want to divide the Aqsa compound, because the Jewish extremists want to take control of Al-Aqsa."

"Our goal today is to prevent Al-Aqsa from being tarnished by their visits," he added. "In the coming days, we'll have people staying here."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that there will be no change to the rules governing the compound despite the views of some hardliners within his governing coalition.