Muslim worshipers have been holding protest-prayers outside the holy site and clashing with Israeli security since Israel installed Muslim prayers outside Jerusalem's Old City Lions Gate ended peacefully on Wednesday night (July 26), after several nights of mass prayer protests that were followed by violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
The dispute over security at the al-Aksa mosque compound - where Israel installed metal detectors at entry points after two police guards were shot dead this month - has touched off the bloodiest clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in years.