The Palestinian Authority issued a call Monday night for Muslims in the Jerusalem area to continue clashing with Israel's security forces, in order to “protect Al-Aksa” and “prevent the Judaizing of Jerusalem.”
The cry for violence was issued by the office of PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, a figure generally viewed by Western powers as relatively moderate. Fayyad called on the international community to join the struggle as well.
"The world must force Israel to halt her efforts to take control of Jerusalem and Judaize it,” Fayyad said. He accused “extremist settlers” of planning to break into the Al-Aksa compound – an apparent reference to a group of religious Jews that visited the site last week.
Earlier in the day, police announced that they had discovered wheelbarrows filled with heavy stones on the Temple Mount, indicating that Muslims had planned in advance for riots at the site. The Temple Mount compound and the Al-Aksa mosque have been closed to Muslim men between the ages of 18 and 50, and to all non-Muslims regardless of age or gender.
The ban on non-Muslims will continue on Tuesday as well.
Muslim leaders in Israel, such as the radical Sheikh Raed Salah, have also accused Israel of attempting to harm to Al-Aksa mosque and have called on Muslim youth to fight. Senior police officials said Monday that Sheikh Salah is expected to face charges in the near future, but so far he has not been arrested.
Riots Spread to Greater Jerusalem, Gaza
While the effort to keep Jews and young Muslim men off the mount appeared to reduce tension on the Temple Mount itself, Muslim riots continued elsewhere in the capital, finally dissipating on Monday night. At least one police officer was wounded by rock-throwing Arab youth over the course of the day, and a soldier was stabbed in the neck by a PA Arab teen during the routine inspection of a bus.
Hamas has used the riots as an opportunity to stir up Gaza's residents against Israel. Several anti-Israel rallies were held Monday in which thousands expressed support for the Al-Aksa mosque. On Sunday, schoolchildren took part in organized anti-Israel demonstrations in Gaza City.