An IDF soldier was lightly wounded on Monday in a clash with Palestinian Authority rioters in Bir Zeit, near Jerusalem. The soldier was treated at the scene and then taken to a Jerusalem area hospital. Dozens of PA Arab rioters were involved in the clash and hurled stones at soldiers, who responded with tear gas and other non-lethal means of riot dispersal. Four rioters were lightly wounded, and were taken to PA medical centers for treatment. The Bir Zeit riot was one of many riots in the Jerusalem area and throughout Judea and Samaria in recent days. Riots have been inspired by PA Muslim leaders, who have called on Muslims to “defend Al-Aksa,” the mosque on the Temple Mount which Muslim leaders claim is under threat from “Jewish extremists.” On Sunday, dozens of PA Arabs rioted at the Beit Jala checkpoint, next to Bethlehem and south of Jerusalem, and several Israeli motorists in Judea and Samaria came under attack by rioters throwing stones and firebombs. On Saturday, PA Arabs and foreign activists rioted in the Bethlehem region, at the Kalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem and at the Shechem Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Dozens of young PA Arab men clashed with police at Shechem Gate in protest of not being allowed to enter the Temple Mount for fear of violent riots. The men were allowed to pray at a site adjacent to the Temple Mount. Riots were reported in Hevron as well, where PA Arabs and Israeli Jews threw stones at each other. One Jewish woman was arrested.
