Anti, pro-Mubarak protests feared in J'lem

Following information Fatah and Hamas planning to protest in favor and against Egyptian regime's downfall, Jerusalem Police restrict worshippers' entry to Temple Mount for Friday prayers. Any attempt to cause disturbances will be dealt with firmly, officials say

Yair Altman |Published: 02.04.11 , 10:55

As Egyptian uprising enters its 11th day, Israel fears riots may reach the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The Jerusalem Police decided to restrict the entry of worshippers to the Friday prayers on the Temple Mount following estimates that the Fatah and Hamas organizations were planning protests in favor and against the Egyptian regime's downfall.

Large police forces were deployed in the capital ahead of the Friday prayer, on the backdrop of the recent events in Egypt and following intelligence information.

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The police said they would only allow worshippers over the age of 50, who own an Israeli identity card, to enter the Temple Mount. Women would be allowed to enter without any restrictions.

Police officials said they would respond firmly against any attempt to cause disturbances.

Ynet learned that Fatah was planning a show of force on the Temple Mount and that its activists are expected to protest against Qatari television network Al-Jazeera, both due to its involvement in the attempted coup in Egypt and following the publication of confidential Palestinian documents last week.

At the same time, Hamas members may protest against Mubarak's government as an expression of solidarity with the Egyptian demonstrators. Israel fears that their protests may turn violent and set the capital on fire.

Meanwhile, a Facebook group inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt has called for a "day of rage" next Friday to protest against the Hamas government which rules the Gaza Strip.

The group, "The Revolution of Honor – Gaza" has grown to some 10,000 members just three days after it was launched.

The group's Facebook page features hate slogans directed against Hamas and its leader Ismail Haniyeh, a photo of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas beside another photo of Che Guevara, as well as detailed instructions on how to promote the "day of rage" using YouTube, Twitter, emails and banners.

On Thursday, Hamas permitted some 1,000 Palestinians to protest against the Egyptian regime for the first time. "Mubarak, you must leave," the protestors chanted. In Ramallah, on the other hand, police dispersed 100 protestors calling for the Egyptian president's resignation and arrested four of them.