Seventy-five Arab Muslims have been arrested in Jerusalem since the recent wave of violence in and around the Temple Mount began. Twenty-four of those arrested are under the age of 18. The detainees are suspected of attacking policemen, blocking off roads, hurling rocks and fire bombs, disturbing the peace and illegal demonstration. Police said Wednesday that Jerusalem is calm at present but that they intend to make additional arrests. Members of the Arab Supreme Monitoring Committee and Arab Knesset Members toured the Temple Mount Wednesday and used the opportunity to hurl insults and invective at the Jewish state's authorities. MK Ahmed Tibi (Raam Taal) responded to a statement by Jerusalem Police commander Maj.-Gen. Aharon Franco who said the Arabs of Jerusalem were “ingrates” by saying that Franco “does not know what democracy means.” "He is not doing us a favor and it would be best for him to shut up and let the Muslims enjoy their basic right to freedom of worship,” Tibi said. “This is a condescending and arrogant statement,” he added. Another Knesset member from Tibi's party, Taleb as-Sana, said that the time of Israeli rule is "the first times since Crusades" that Muslim prayer on mount is under limitations. In recent days, entry into the Temple Mount has been allowed only for Muslim men over the age of 50 and Muslim women of all ages. Jews and other “visitors” are not allowed in at all. The police say that the limitations on Temple Mount access will continue into this weekend.
