Jersualem Muslim prayers calm as riot hits Hebron

Weekly Muslim prayers at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque went off without incident Nov. 21 despite high tensions in the Holy City, but stone-throwing Palestinians rioted in the West Bank city of Hebron.
      
After Israeli authorities dropped aged restrictions for attending Friday prayers for the second week running, tens of thousands of people made their way to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied Arab east Jerusalem.
     
Police were out in force to prevent a repeat of clashes, led by young Palestinians, that have rocked the city for months.
      
"The police are on stand-by in different areas to respond if necessary to any disturbances... There are extra units in and around the Old City," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
      
Men and women of all ages shuffled into the compound, holy to both Jews and Muslims, as police carefully checked the identity cards of younger worshippers.
      
Clashes at the site are usually led by younger Palestinian men. Earlier this month, some of them hurled rocks and firecrackers at police, who entered the compound and the Al-Aqsa mosque itself.
      
The Palestinians have been infuriated by a far-right Jewish campaign for prayer rights at the compound that threatens an ultra-sensitive, decades-old status quo under which Jews can visit but not pray.
      
Police had tried to preempt unrest by limiting male entry to those over 35.
      
But Israel eased the restrictions last week after US Secretary of State John Kerry announced an agreement on steps to reduce tensions.
                      
Wasel Qassem, 35, said lifting the age bar might gradually help calm tempers.
      
"Restrictions were the main cause" of tension...