Abbas opposes 'escalation' with Israel as Al-Aqsa prayers restrictions lifted

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Oct. 6 he wanted to avoid a violent escalation with Israel as Israeli police lifted restrictions on worship at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in an apparent bid to ease tensions after three weeks of violence.

Abbas's remarks came as spreading unrest provoked fears of a new uprising and as Israeli and Palestinian officers met to discuss ways of defusing the situation.
 
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri announced that Muslims would be allowed to worship again at the Al-Aqsa mosque starting Wednesday -- a move welcomed by US State Department spokesman Mark Toner as "a step in the right direction" after another day of clashes.
 
Acting on orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step up punitive measures against Palestinian militants, Israeli security forces on Oct. 6 demolished the homes of two Palestinians who carried out attacks last year.
 
More clashes erupted later, including in Bethlehem following the funeral of a 13-year-old killed by Israeli soldiers in rioting outside the city.
 
Palestinian medics said two protesters in the usually quiet desert town of Jericho were moderately wounded by shots to the legs.
 
Violence also hit the heart of Israel as Arabs in the Tel Aviv district of Jaffa marched in protest at Israeli actions at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa compound.
 
"Protesters, some masked, threw stones at police and assaulted and injured two officers," Samri, the police spokeswoman, wrote in a statement.    

The Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as telling officials: "We are telling our security forces,

our political movements, that we do not want an escalation, but that we want to protect ourselves."   Abbas's...