JERUSALEM (JTA) — Palestinians worshipping at the Temple Mount attacked a group of Christian tourists with stones.
The attack Sunday reportedly was in reaction to a rumor that a group of Jewish rightists were scheduled to visit the Temple Mount and had plans to destroy the Al-Aksa mosque and build the Third Temple on the site.
Some 18 Palestinians were arrested in connection with clashes with Jerusalem police; three police officers were injured.
The site remained open to worshipers and tourists. No Jews were at the site during the clashes.
The incident comes a week after a regularly scheduled visit by Likud Party hard-liner Moshe Feiglin was canceled after flyers appeared hanging in the area saying that members of the ruling Likud Party were scheduled to visit the Temple Mount that day in order to "declare that healthy leadership begins with total control over Temple Mount."
Jews were prevented from visiting the Temple Mount that morning.
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