Israeli police clash with Palestinian demonstrators on Jerusalem's Temple Mount

JERUSALEM – Israeli police say Palestinian demonstrators have clashed with police forces on Jerusalem's Temple Mount and that three policemen were lightly injured.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says several dozen masked Palestinians began throwing rocks and fire crackers at police when the Temple Mount, which is known to Muslims as the "Noble Sanctuary," opened for prayers on Wednesday morning.

There was no immediate information on Palestinian casualties.

The location is the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, and is a frequent flashpoint for demonstrations.

Tensions have been high in Jerusalem since Hamas militants abducted and killed three Jewish teenagers in the West Bank in June and Jewish extremists killed a young Palestinian several weeks later.

Those events helped precipitate the 50-day-long Gaza war this summer.