Violence erupts as Israeli police raid Jerusalem holy site

Once again, Israelis and Palestinians exchanged recriminations and rocket fire – following a pre-dawn raid by Israeli police on Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation had been caused by “extremists” barricading themselves inside the mosque – but claimed Israel was “committed” to maintaining free access to all religions on the Temple Mount – considered holy by both Muslims and Jews.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called it “an egregious assault” on the right of free worship.