Seven Palestinians were killed and 220 wounded in clashes Friday between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in Al Aqsa Mosque compound in east Jerusalem, the Palestinian leadership said.
The Palestinian leadership announced following a meeting in Ramallah presided over by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, that a general strike and day of national mourning on Saturday throughout Palestine, according to the Palestinian TV.
The Palestinian leaders’ statement said that Israeli forces firing on Palestinians was a "premeditated crime" and denounced the use of live ammunition against Palestinian civilians who had gathered at the site sacred to Jews and Muslims for Friday prayers.
Jibril Rajoub, head of Palestinian preventive security in the West Bank, accused Israel of a "massacre."
The violent clashes continued until a late hour Friday, and spread from east Jerusalem to Hebron, Bethlehem and Nablus, according to reports.
The Palestinian official new agency (WAFA) said the clashes broke out a after a unit of special police forces attacked the worshippers while they were leaving the mosque after Friday prayers.
It added that the Israeli police opened fire randomly at the crowds inside the mosque compound, while a helicopter was firing from above. They first shot tear gas and rubber bullets then used live ammunition, WAFA said.
The agency quoted a doctor who was treating the injured as saying that the type of injuries –mainly in the head and the chest – indicate that snipers were among the Israeli police.
WAFA said that lost Palestinians were shot in the eyes, and were receiving therapy in the Eyes Hospital in east Jerusalem.
According to the agency’s correspondents in Jerusalem, more than 3000 Israeli police and border guards were deployed in the holy city from the early hours of the day.
EGYPT BLAMES ISRAEL FOR "BLOODY EVENTS"
The Egyptian government blamed Israel for the "bloody violence" in Palestine, according to AFP.
At the same time, the office of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that the president would be meeting in Cairo on Saturday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The agency quoted a statement issued by Mubarak's office saying that Egypt deplores "the bloody violence triggered today ... by the Israelis (who are) not concerned to reach peace."
It added that Egypt regrets that these clashes occurred at a moment "when all the partners are deploying their efforts to overcome the obstacles that are hindering peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians."
Egypt called on Israel "to take all measures (to ensure) that these sort of incidents are not repeated" so that the process can move forward, according to AFP.
EU, UN “Extremely Worried”
AFP also reported that the European Union said Friday it was "extremely worried" by the clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
The EU "strongly condemns the provocations and acts of violence which were committed," on Thursday and Friday, "and those committed during these past days in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank," said a statement issued by the French EU presidency.
The EU "calls on the parties concerned to refrain from any sort of provocation and any action that would encourage further confrontations," the statement added.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan also urged both Israel and the Palestinians to exercise "maximum restraint", saying he was "seriously concerned," reported the agency.
Israeli Police Commander Injured
Israeli public radio reported 70 injuries on the Israeli side, including the police commander of the Jerusalem area, Yair Itzhaki, who was hit in the head by a stone.
Earlier Friday, two Israeli soldiers were shot by a Palestinian policeman in the West Bank and one of them later died of his wounds.
The violence, which began on Wednesday with the killing of an Israeli soldier and wounding of another by a bomb in Gaza, comes amid continued deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians, chiefly over who will control the sacred sites under a final peace settlement, said AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told public television Friday that if the Palestinian Authority will not act to prevent violence, it could threaten the security of Israeli citizens and the peace process.
"We are at a very important juncture, and we know that a lack of success on the part of the (Palestinian) authority to take the necessary steps to stop the attacks can endanger the security of citizens, of the security forces and not least, the peace process itself."
Despite the violence, Barak said the talks must go on, and he rejected an appeal from Israel's right-wing Likud opposition party to halt the process.
"I am convinced that it is possible and necessary to make an additional effort to reach an agreement," Barak said.
But top Barak security adviser Danny Yatom told public television that "no substantive progress has been made" in the latest round of talks in the United States.
Friday's incidents followed clashes Thursday when Likud's hawkish leader Ariel Sharon visited the compound housing the Al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock that are sacred to Muslims.
The Israelis said Palestinians had begun throwing stones at Jews praying at the Western Wall, where many had gathered ahead of the Jewish New Year, obliging the security forces to respond – (Several Sources)
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