PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat released a statement on Sunday accusing the Israeli government of "enthusiastically trying to turn the question of Palestine into a religious war," through its actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Erekat said in a statement that the PLO does not, and will not accept a religious narrative concerning the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Erekat also added that the increase in Israeli attacks against "the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound" will not be accepted, and called on the international community "to assume its responsibility to protect the Palestinian people and their holy sites, and to take concrete steps to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine." Tensions in Jerusalem have soared during the past few weeks, as Israeli authorities have continued to impose strict restrictions on Muslim worshipers, while scheduling time to allow right-wing Israelis to tour the compound. Dozens of right-wing Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday morning in groups heavily escorted by Israeli police officers and soldiers, local sources told Ma'an. Sources within the Jerusalem office of the Ministry of Endowment said that more than a hundred Israelis entered the compound via the Moroccan gate. Some toured the compound, and others just walked from the Moroccan gate to the Chain gate where they exited. Some of the "unwanted" visitors were reportedly students from Ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools. Meanwhile, more than 60 Palestinians most of them are women were denied entry after they were blacklisted for being 'trouble makers" by the Israeli forces at the beginning of September. One of the blacklisted women Um Eyhab al-Jallad said Israeli officers assaulted the blacklisted women outside the Chain gate, the Cotton Merchant's gate and Hatta gate. She highlighted that near Hatta gate, Israeli officers attacked some of the women with pepper spray. A woman was detained while she was standing outside one of the gates, added al-Jallad. In addition, a group of right wing Israelis picketed in the alley leading to the Chain gate and performed Jewish prayers under the protection of Israeli soldiers. On Friday, Israeli forces increased their presence around the compound, amid rumors that young Palestinians had planned a protest action to take place after midday prayers. That evening at least 11 Palestinians were detained and several more injured by Israeli forces, one by live fire, during fierce clashes that broke out across occupied East Jerusalem against restrictions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, locals told Ma'an at the time.
