Police barred Jews from the Temple Mount as of 9 a.m. Monday after failing to prevent masked Muslims from chasing the Jews away from the holy site.
The video below, at 1:14, shows police escorting Jews returning from the Temple Mount through the Old City, where a veiled Muslim woman motioned to police as she stood next to a poster that read, “I am banned from Al- Aqsa Mosque.” The woman helped the policeman remove the “offensive” poster.
Hundreds of Jews arrived at the Temple Mount on Sunday, the first day of Chol HaMoed, and the police were not prepared for such large numbers.
They allowed only one-fourth of the Jews to enter, according to Temple Mount activists. Police also limited their numbers while allowing Muslims, some of them masked and hired by Muslim clerics, to roam around the Temple Mouton and harass Jews.
Police did not interfere with the Muslims, none of whom were detained, and they escorted the Jews off the holy site as a jeering crowd of Muslims followed them.
Visits by Jews on the Temple Mount Monday were restricted to only three minutes. Jews were separated from tourists and subjected to body searches to make sure they did not bring any religious objects with them.
As the Muslim crowds grew, the police decided to bar entry to all Jews as of 9 a.m.