Arab rioting shuts down Temple Mount to Jews, tourists

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(JTA) — Israeli police closed the Temple Mount to Jews and tourists following rioting by Arabs.

The closure was imposed Thursday morning as police arrested six Arabs who are suspected of taking part in riots and stone throwing on visitors in recent days, Army Radio reported.

During the arrests, security forces discovered two homemade rifles, a magazine and ammunition. Israeli police detectives confiscated the firearms for further analysis, according to the news site nrg.co.il.

Several dozen Palestinian protesters and an Israeli policeman were wounded Wednesday on the Temple Mount after rioting broke out over the site’s opening to Jewish visitors.

The site is overseen by the Muslim Wakf, which generally does not permit visiting Jews to pray or bring any ritual objects to the Temple Mount.

Separately, four Israelis sustained minor injuries after their car was hit by stones in the West Bank settlement of Tekoah south of Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported Thursday.

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