Palestinians and Israeli forces clash

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors throwing stones in neighborhoods around the Mount of Olives on Friday. In the West Bank, a correspondent for the AFP news agency reported that the skirmishes were more intense than normal for a Friday, which has become a day of protests following weekly prayers.

Protests also broke out in several locations across the West Bank.

"By our soul and blood, we sacrifice ourselves for you al-Aqsa," chanted demonstrators both in Nablus and the Gaza Strip, AFP reported.

Security stepped up

Earlier in the day, Israel had deployed hundreds of extra police in East Jerusalem ahead of the expected protests. It followed clashes at the site earlier this week, during Jewish new year commemorations.

Muslim men under 40 were barred from al-Aqsa on Friday by police, who said they had intelligence "indicating the intention of Arab youths to disturb the peace."

"It's a frontline," 52-year-old Mazen Shawish told AFP. "You have to go through 20 military checkpoints to get to the mosque."

Holy site

The hilltop in Jerusalem's Old City is sacred for both Jews and Muslims. It is the third holiest site in Islam, called the Noble Sanctuary, and the holiest site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

Non-Muslims are forbidden from praying there, and can only visit during certain hours. Some Muslims fear Israel will seek to change the current rules governing the site, with right-wing Jewish groups campaigning for more access. The compound has seen frequent outbreaks of violence as a result. Israel has said it had no plans to change the status quo at the site.

Israel seized East Jerusalem, where al-Aqsa is located, in the Six Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

Rocket fire

At least one rocket from Gaza exploded in the neighboring Israeli town of Sderot Friday evening. It damaged a bus.

se/sms (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)