Temple Mount closed to Jews, visitors amid Ramadan riots

Israeli police today banned non-Muslims from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem until the end of Ramadan in the face of violence from Palestinian rioters at the site. The mount, the former site of the Jewish Temple and current home to the Al-Asqa Mosque, is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Since Sunday, Palestinians had holed up in the mosque and attacked officers with fireworks and other objects they had stockpiled inside. Police say Jewish worshipers had rocks hurled at them, so authorities decided to close access to Jews and visitors until Ramadan ends July 5.