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Israel barred men under 50 from Friday prayers at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site after two weeks of tensions and deadly unrest, leading thousands of Palestinians to hold mass prayers outside.
Thousands of others entered the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for prayers after Palestinians ended a boycott of the site the previous day.
Despite fears of violent clashes around the compound, which includes Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the area was largely calm following Friday's midday prayers.
Dozens of young Palestinians shouted and protested near one entrance to the compound and minor scuffles broke out with police.
Clashes did erupt between Israeli forces and Palestinians in parts of the occupied West Bank, including in the Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron areas, the Israeli army said.
A Palestinian also attempted to stab soldiers at a junction in the West Bank and was shot dead by Israeli forces, according to the Israeli army.
Tensions at the holy site were high even after thousands of worshippers returned to the compound on Thursday, ending a boycott over new security measures following an attack that killed two policemen that Israel eventually removed.
The outside prayers on Friday were due to the Israeli age restrictions and were not the start of a new boycott.
"It was a victory for you and for your beliefs and for Jerusalem," Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein told worshippers at Al-Aqsa of the boycott.
Police said early in the day there were "indications that disturbances and demonstrations will take place today," prompting them to bar men under 50 from praying at Al-Aqsa.
Roads around Jerusalem's Old City, where the compound is located, were closed and some 3,500 police were deployed.
Police said they had also removed a number of people who attempted to stay inside Al-Aqsa mosque overnight.
"It is a cowardly act," Amjad Hassoun, a young man from Jerusalem who was walking near the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City, said of the age restriction.
"I say to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu that he is a coward."
(AFP)
