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Tuesday 29 Sep 2015 - 21:45 Makkah mean time-16-12-1436
 Ramallah (IINA) - Clashes have erupted across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as a result of ongoing confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Along with other Knesset members from the Arab Joint List coalition, Jamal Zahalka was present at the Al-Aqsa compound on Tuesday to protest recent visits to the holy place by Jewish organizations and entry restrictions on Palestinian worshippers, Al Jazeera reported. "We have no problem with Jewish visitors. We have a problem with groups that come to provoke Palestinians," Zahalka said, referring to right-wing organizations and settler groups. Since Monday morning, Palestinian men under the age of 50 have been barred from visiting the mosque, while women have not faced any age restrictions. An Israeli police spokesman was not available for comment.
The mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims. "It is in occupied territory and Palestinians have a right to defend their places of worship," Zahalka said. "We refuse to normalize the visits (by Jewish Israelis) to the mosque because the next step is dividing it," he said, alluding to the division of Hebron's al-Ibrahimi Mosque into a Muslim section and a Jewish section. Palestinian Knesset members called for unity between the West Bank-based Fatah party and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "We want to see unity on the ground in order to support al-Aqsa," Zahalka said. During the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which began Sunday evening, many Jews from across the country visit the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
In cities and villages across the West Bank, Palestinian shop owners and public institutions held a general strike for two hours in solidarity with al-Aqsa Mosque compound. On Tuesday evening, Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and elsewhere. Dozens of injuries were reported, including at least seven wounded in demonstrations near Ramallah. Speaking to Al Jazeera, an Israeli army spokeswoman said that "hundreds of Palestinians gathered near Ramallah" outside Beit El, a Jewish-only settlement. "A riot took place and Israeli forces responded using riot dispersal means." The spokeswoman confirmed that Israeli soldiers used "rubber-coated bullets and 0.22 inch caliber ammunition", striking seven protesters in "the lower extremities". She denied the use of live ammunition.
HA/IINA
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