Police presence high in east Jerusalem; West Bank sealed in anticipation of possible unrest
By APFriday, March 19, 2010
Police presence high in volatile east Jerusalem
JERUSALEM — The Israeli police presence in east Jerusalem is high and Palestinian access to the city’s holiest site is being strictly limited in anticipation of possible unrest Friday.
Israel is also barring nearly all West Bank Palestinians from entering the city.
Friday is the Muslim holy day, and in tense times protests often break out after midday prayers.
Palestinians and police clashed repeatedly this past week in east Jerusalem.
The violence coincided with a U.S.-Israeli diplomatic feud.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton with a proposal to defuse the crisis, which erupted over Israeli plans to build 1,600 apartments in east Jerusalem.
Neither side released details.
