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U.S. citizens and staff workers at its embassy in Tel Aviv received an advisory on Friday to avoid traveling to Jerusalem in the wake of Thursday's evacuation of a Jewish squatters from a disputed house in the West Bank town of Hebron. The government is also advising Americans to refrain from driving on the main highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Highway 1, due to heavy traffic delays and "ongoing police activity." The advisory does not specify the reason behind the recommendations, though it would be reasonable to assume that it stems from the settler riots that followed the Hebron house evacuation on Thursday.The notice, which was disseminated by the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, reads:"Based upon past events, Americans should be alert to the possibility of demonstrations and other actions throughout Israel. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times." Earlier Friday morning, clashes erupted in Jerusalem's Old City between Arab youths and police forces who were deployed in the area. Two Arab youths were arrested near the Temple Mount after trying to force their way into the Old City. Israel Police on Friday restricted the entry of male Muslim worshippers to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, fearing disruptances in the wake of the evacuation of settlers from a disputed house in Hebron a day earlier. Only men over the age of 45 with a valid Israeli identification card will be allowed to enter the Muslim holy site. Woman will not be restricted from entering/ The Jordanian government Thursday strongly condemned Israel for "violating" international law by allowing 70 Jews to enter the yard of mosque, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. "The Jordanian government strongly condemns the Israeli police's permission of 70 ultranationalist Jews to enter the Islamic shrine under their protection, and consider it a provocation for Muslim feelings," Minister of State for Information Affairs and Communication Nasser Judeh said. "Jordan considers Israel, as an occupation power, directly responsible for such violations of international law and their dangerous repercussions." Judeh urged the world community and parties concerned with the peace process to "move promptly to force Israel to stop these violations and provocations, which could negatively affect the ongoing peace negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians. Under the peace treaty that the two countries concluded in 1994, Israel recognized Jordan's right to look after all Muslim and Christian holy places in East Jerusalem.By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
As in the days of Noah...
