15 cops, dozens of Palestinians hurt in Temple Mount clashes

        Clashes broke out between Israeli police officers and Muslim rock throwers at the end of Friday prayers on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem following a sermon on a recent Israeli decision to include two West Bank shrines on a list of national heritage sites. Rocks were thrown from the direction of the mosques above toward Jews praying below at the Western Wall plaza. Israeli police entered the Temple Mount compound to quell the rock throwing. The stone throwers eventually retreated to inside the Al-Asqa mosque. After talks with the Muslim Waqf, which administers the Temple Mount compound, police withdrew to the Mughrabim Gate and allowed adult worshippers to exit the compound. Fifteen police officers were lightly hurt; three were transported to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus, two to Shaare Zedek and the rest were treated at the scene. Palestinians reported that dozens were injured by Israeli security forces. Rocks were also thrown at police by young Arabs at several locations in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Police have arrested three stone throwers. Israeli Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch blamed Palestinians for the outbreak of clashes. "I accuse the Palestinians, including Hamas operatives, of inciting the situation," he said after arrving at the Temple Mount. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, condemned police for entering the compound. "Israel continues to place obstacles in front of (US Middle East envoy George) Mitchell's efforts" to revive long-stalled peace negotiations, he told Palestine Television. Always tense, the Temple Mount has recently seen sporadic clashes linked at least in part to the Israeli government decision to include the West Bank shrines on the heritage site list. The move's practical ramifications are unclear, but Palestinians see it as a provocation. Najeh Btirat, a Waqf official, said the clash followed a mosque sermon on the issue. The Friday sermon focused on the Islamic sites that are being targeted by Israel and the need to preserve them, he said. About 300 young men threw stones at police after prayers, he said. In Hebron, a group of about 100 Palestinians protested outside the Cave of the Patriarchs. The Temple Mount is under Israeli security control, but day-to-day administration has been left in the hands of the Waqf. Jews are not allowed to pray at the site. (15,00)