Israeli riot police ordered to guard contested Jerusalem shrine

Nov. 7, 2014: Palestinian security forces take off a Hamas flag from the demonstrators during a protest against Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, in the West Bank City of Nablus. (AP)

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An Israeli border policeman shoots a rubber-coated bullet during clashes with Palestinians, as Israeli police limited the access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Tensions have been rising in recent weeks over the Jerusalem shrine, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) (The Associated Press)

Palestinians hold stones during clashes with Israeli border police, as Israeli police limited the access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Tensions have been rising in recent weeks over the Jerusalem shrine, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) (The Associated Press)

Israel has deployed more than 1,300 police to deal with possible violence as Muslim worshippers flock to a hotly contested holy site in Jerusalem for weekly prayers.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says the officers were deployed Friday "to maintain law and order in the area."

The deployment came two days after riot police clashed with Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third- holiest shrine. Samri said worshippers Friday would be limited to women and men over 35.

Israeli-Palestinian confrontations have been escalating in Jerusalem, including near-daily clashes between stone-throwing Palestinians and Israeli riot police. Palestinians have also carried out two deadly vehicle attacks in recent weeks.

At one access road leading to Al-Aqsa, some 500 young Palestinians knelt in prayer in front of dozens of black-garbed Israeli riot police.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-riot-police-ordered-to-guard-contested-jerusalem-shrine