Israeli police cordon Al-Aqsa and Palestinians rally to defend it Jerusalem, Gaza – Sona Al-Deek/ Mohammad Habib Public Israeli Radio reported that  Israeli police decided to close the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque for non-Muslim visitors, Sunday, to prevent any clashes, following the declaration of a number of Likud members of their intention to storm the holy Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, in order to “perform Talmudic rituals”, calling for the construction of the Temple on the Mosque’s ruins. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians assembled and headed for the Mosque before Fajr (dawn) prayer, intending to protect it.
Police stated that they would prevent any attempts to turn the square of al-Aqsa or the Buraq into an area of clashes, stressing that they would not allow Likud members to enter the mosque.
Several Israeli  soldiers were deployed since Saturday mornin in the the vicinity of the holy Aqsa Mosque, and their numbers increased by 3 am on Sunday, following the conclusion of the Talmudic prayers at the Buraq.
Occupation forces turned old Jerusalem and the area surrounding into a military barracks, where dozens of Israeli soldiers were stationed, and more  were patrolling the streets and alleyways.
Police closed the al-Aqsa courtyards to worshippers and visitors, under the pretext that  right-wing Jewish activists planned to storm the mosque, calling for the \"purification of the Temple Mount from the enemies of Israel.\"
The police expressed concerns that the intent of some far-right Likud members, the followers of  Moshe Feiglin, would enter the compound incite riots.
\"Feiglin\'s people come to Temple Mount almost every month. The difference this time is the flyers,\" a police source told Yedioth Ahronoth.
Flyers found near the compound read: \"Members of the Likud Caucus, along with its thousands of members, headed by Moshe Feiglin,  are hereby invited to arrive at Temple Mount and praise God, and declare that healthy leadership begins with total control over Temple Mount.
Najeh Bukairat, the head of  manuscripts and heritage at the Aqsa mosque, told Quds Press that \"hundreds of border policemen and other  police forces had been pouring into the vicinity of the mosque since the early morning\", and he called on Palestinians to flock to the holy site starting with dawn prayers on Sunday. Fifteen hundred had arrived by dawn.
Najeh Bukairat addressed Muslims worldwide, saying that the al-Aqsa mosque is in real danger and the Israeli occupation authority is adamant on storming the site to build their own temple. To confirm this as more than just a wild idea, earlier this week, a photograph was published in an Israeli newspaper where  the Dome of the Rock  had been edited out.
Brigades of Martyr Abu Ali Mostafa, the armed wing of the Popular Front, warned the Israeli occupation of the consequences of trying to storm the holy Mosque, stating that any compromise to Islamic or Christian holy sites would entail more bloodshed in the area.
“Our Palestinian and Arab peoples and the Palestinian resistance will not stand idly by and will defend our sanctities by force,” said the Brigades, in a statement copied to Arabstoday.
Many clashes occurred between Jerusalem residents and Israeli forces, according to the Middle East News Agency (MENA), at Al-Nazer, one of 11 gates which form the entrance to al-Aqsa Mosque, and al-Wad Street, while Israeli army, police and intelligence officers patrolled streets close to the mosque\'s gates.
News of the attack inspired by Feiglin caused alarm on social networking site Twitter where users implored all able-bodied Palestinians to go to Al-Aqsa and defend it, whereas others claimed it was a hoax.