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3 Israeli policemen wounded in east Jerusalem clashes

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Three Israeli border police officers suffered light to moderate wounds from shooting and a firebomb hurled by Palestinians in east Jerusalem, a police spokesperson told Xinhua on Friday.

A firebomb and shots were fired at the paramilitary force stationed outside the Palestinian village of Jabel Mukabar, police spokesperson Mickey Rosenfeld said.

He added that more Israeli security forces arrived at the area and are currently trying to disperse Palestinian rioters.

The Channel 10 news reported that another wounded person was a Palestinian who was involved in attacking the force.

The incident took place amid high alert by authorities in east Jerusalem following a week of unrest in the city.

Also on Friday, separate clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters took place at the entrance to the old city of Jerusalem and in the east Jerusalem Palestinian village of Shuafat.

According to unconfirmed Palestinian reports, more than 10 Palestinians were lightly wounded in Shuafat.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli Knesset (parliament) approved a decree allowing the Israel Defense Forces to recruit hundreds of reserve soldiers for the paramilitary border police unit amid the thriving violence in Jerusalem.

After a 64-year-old Israeli man was killed by stones hurled at his car on Sunday in east Jerusalem, Israeli leaders vowed to crackdown on rock and firebomb throwers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the police to use live sniper fire to disperse riots in the city.

Netanyahu said he would act to keep the status quo in Temple Mount amid protest from Arab leaders worldwide over Israel's actions.

The United Nations urged both sides to exercise restraint in order to stop the violence escalation in the city.

Temple Mount, holy to both Jews and Muslims, has witnessed in the past week ongoing clashes that resulted in the light injury of dozens of Israeli policemen and Palestinian protesters, and the arrest of more than 30 Palestinians.

Jews are allowed to visit the Mount but not pray in it, according to the status quo understandings reached by Israel and Jordan in 1994 peace treaty.

Right-wing Jewish activists demanded that Jews would be allowed to pray at the site, while Palestinians charged Israel is trying to take over the site. Endit