Clashes continue in Jerusalem between Palestinians and Israeli police

The Fatah Central Council has called for a general strike in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Friday in protest of Israel's "measures against al-Aksa Mosque."

The call comes as the faction and its leader, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, are facing a wave of unprecedented protests over the decision to withdraw support for the UN fact-finding mission's report into Operation Cast Lead.

The council expressed "deep concern" over Israel's security measures in Jerusalem following an outburst of violence over the past week.

It said Israel was "besieging" the mosque, preventing Muslims from reaching the area and "colluding" with Jewish extremists by enabling them to enter the compound.

For a bit of context, this all started a few weeks ago hours before Yom Kippur when a group of French tourists, escorted by police, tried to visit Temple Mount and were set upon by Palestinians with stones and petrol bombs.

Article with video here (Daily Telegraph)

Since then Islamic leaders have been trying to incite riots by claiming that Jews are trying to dig tunnels underneath Al Aqsa to destroy it in order to rebuild the Temple. The other day they found wheelbarrows full of rocks and stones hidden against one of the walls.

There's talk of this leading to the third Intifada, but from what I've read it's an annual occurrence and probably nothing to worry about.

One more point, does CNN have a dog in this fight for some reason? I only ask because I notice that the interviewer does not take the trouble to interview any Israeli spokesmen, just Palestinians.

There is a lot of incitement / agitation going on around Temple Mount at the moment, and from the news I've been following it isn't on the Jewish side.

Originally posted by mattpryor
"One more point, does CNN have a dog in this fight for some reason? I only ask because I notice that the interviewer does not take the trouble to interview any Israeli spokesmen, just Palestinians."

I'm sure one of the other non fox news channels will have one ain't hard to find

"There is a lot of incitement / agitation going on around Temple Mount at the moment, and from the news I've been following it isn't on the Jewish side."

Then might i suggest reading some reports from the other side to get a BALANCED view although to be fair you're probably right although i don't think you'll get the arab media to admit that