Tensions over holy site in Jerusalem rise as death toll reaches seven

Israel sent extra troops into the occupied West Bank on Saturday and its police broke up a crowd of Palestinians in Jerusalem as international concern mounted over the deadliest outbreak of violence between the two sides for years, Reuters reported.

The death toll for the past two days rose to seven as the Palestine Health Ministry reported another Palestinian was killed during a separate clash outside the city. However, it did not provide details of how he died.

An Israeli policeman aims his weapon during clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank village of Khobar near Ramallah July 22, 2017. Reuters

On Friday, three Israelis were stabbed to death while eating dinner in the fenced-in West Bank settlement of Neve Tsuf.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided the home of the Palestinian attacker who fatally stabbed the three Israelis and wounded another on Friday.

The attacker, Omar Alabed, who invaded their home, was shot and taken to a hospital for treatment, the military said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the attacker's brother was arrested and that security forces were restricting movement of Palestinians from his village.

Three Palestinians were killed hours before the attack in violence spurred on by Israel’s installation of metal detectors at entry points to the Noble Sanctuary-Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's walled Old City.

A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during clashes near the border between Israel and central Gaza Strip July 21, 2017. Reuters

Israel installed the detectors earlier this month after two Israeli policemen were killed near there. The installation angered the Palestinians, who accuse Israel of trying to take control over a sacred place.

Tensions over the site, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, have increased in the few days.

Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations said in a joint statement they were "deeply concerned by the escalating tensions and violent clashes taking place in and around the Old City of Jerusalem", and called for restraint on all sides.

Diplomats said the UN Security Council would meet to discuss the situation on Monday.

Sweden, Egypt and France requested the meeting to "urgently discuss how calls for de-escalation in Jerusalem can be supported", Sweden's Security Council coordinator, Carl Skau, posted on Twitter.

Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian man following clashes outside Jerusalem's Old city July 21, 2017. Reuters

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contacts with Israel until it removed the metal detectors at the holy compound in Jerusalem, where Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa mosque.

Israeli police said they used riot gear in Jerusalem to disperse dozens of Palestinians who threw stones and bottles at them. Television footage showed police throwing stun grenades and using a water cannon to break up the crowd.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians died of gunshot wounds in two neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem, some distance away from the epicentre of tension. It later reported a third Palestinian fatality.

Palestinians react following tear gas that was shot by Israeli forces after Friday prayer on a street outside Jerusalem's Old city Jul 21, 2017. Reuters

Israel is willing to consider alternatives to the controversial metal detectors it installed at the holy site, a senior official said.

Major General Yoav Mordechai called on the Muslim world to put forward other suggestions.

"We hope that Jordan and other Arab nations can suggest another security solution for this (problem)," Mordechai told BBC Arabic.

 "Any solution be it electronic, cyber or modern technology: Israel is ready for a solution. We need a security solution; not political or religious."