
 
 
The Temple  Mount was closed to Jews Monday morning for the second day in a row during this  holiday week of Sukkot, following an incident in which a group of some 50  Chassidim attempted to reach the Mount of Olives and were attacked by a mob of  Arabs.
Male Arab worshipers above the age of 50, women of all ages and  children are being allowed to continue to enter the site.
"They were  lucky to escape with their lives," Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told  Israel National News, adding that police would reassess the situation "in a few  hours, once the Birkat HaKohanim (blessing of the priestly class on the People  of Israel) is completed at the Kotel." He noted that the Temple Mount had been  closed to Jews as a precaution "due to the security risks involved."
When  asked why Jews were being blocked from the area, when it was the Arabs who had  attacked, Rosenfeld had no comment, other than to repeat the information that  the decision would be reviewed in a few hours' time. "The situation is changing  rapidly," he added.
Tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers streamed to  the Western Wall early Monday morning to be present for the traditional  ceremony, a blessing performed during each Jewish festival. The ritual is one  that hearkens back to a similar practice during the time of the Holy  Temple.
The incident follows one on Sunday in which Fatah-linked Islamic  clerics called on Arab worshipers to "come protect the Mount."  Israel Police quickly moved into  place, cordoning off the area and blocking access to the site. Nonetheless, Arab  violence followed, with some 250 Arabs hurling rocks and bottles at police near  the Lion's Gate. At least one police officer was injured and several people were  arrested.
The violence continued into the night, with Arabs in the northern  part of the capital burning tires and flinging rocks at passing vehicles. One  police officer was wounded and two of the attackers were arrested.