LOC18:57
15:57 GMT
RAMALLAH, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Some 200,000 Palestinians performed the last
Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa mosque today despite
stringent Israeli security precautions around it, according to witnesses.
Hundreds of Palestinians, including women, elderly and children, lined up
at the Israeli-manned Qalendyah checkpoint for inspection en route to the
courtyard of the ancient mosque. The Israeli troops barred young Palestinians
who carried no permits, along with men and women aged less than 40, from
reaching the mosque.
Thousands of the worshippers who performed the prayers at the sacred mosque
came from Israel.
Meanwhile in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians staged demonstrations after
the Friday prayers marking the International Jerusalem Day. The protesters who
brandished Palestinian flags called for resuming the armed struggle against
the occupation and condemned the peace negotiations, currently sponsored by
the United States.
Ismail Al-Ashkar, a leader of Hamas, addressed the demonstrators,
condemning the negotiations as "a crime and treason" against the Palestinian
people. He also warned the Palestinian leadership of Mahmoud Abbas against
clamping down on Islamic activists in the West Bank.
The Hamas leader also called for carrying out what he termed as major
offensives against the Israeli occupation. (end)
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KUNA 031857 Sep 10NNNN