Police Rescue Knesset Group From Muslims

JERUSALEM —  Police moved in today to rescue a group of Israeli members of Parliament from angry Muslims who surrounded them as they tried to inspect Temple Mount, a disputed site holy to both Jews and Muslims.

“It was a tough and terrible experience,” said Dov Shilansky, chairman of the Knesset Interior Committee. “We were exposed to the mob and the police were helpless.”

Police sealed off Temple Mount and reported the area was quiet 90 minutes after rescuing the lawmakers. There were no injuries in the incident.

The committee members had gone to the area to investigate complaints of illegal Muslim construction that would disrupt the status quo on the Temple Mount between Muslims and Jews, Israel Radio said.

Committee members said Muslim guards stopped them and told them to keep official Knesset photographers outside the mosque, where loudspeakers began to blare, “The Jews are on Haram Esh Sharif.” A number of Arabs then crowded around and began to chase, push and punch the Knesset members, they said.