Jewish fanatics during one of their provocative tours of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, that also includes the Dome of the Rock (appears here). 

JERUSALEM, April 13, 2017 (WAFA) – Jewish fanatics escalated on Thursday their provocative tours of the Muslim holy place, Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem’s Old City, according to officials.

They said hundreds of fanatics, mainly religious ones, entered the compound for the second day in a row under heavy police protection.

Palestinian Muslim worshippers inside the mosque watched from a distance to make sure none of the fanatics would attempt to hold religious rituals during the tours.

Israeli police had already banned a number of Palestinian mosque employees and many other young Palestinians from entering the holy compound this week to prevent outbreak of clashes between the fanatics and the local population.

Extremists Jewish groups have called on their followers to be present in the mosque during the Jewish Passover holiday and to perform religious rituals. Israeli Police does not allow religious prayers in the mosque for non-Muslims.

The Jewish groups hope to one day take over the mosque and turn it into a Jewish worship place, a step Muslim and Palestinian officials have warned could start a religious strife.

Meanwhile, Israeli police said it had closed several main roads in and around the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday to allow for thousands of Jews to reach Al-Buraq, known also as the Western Wall, to perform special Passover prayer.

At the same time, police said it arrested five Jewish fanatics following a brawl with Palestinians on Wednesday night outside one of the gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Palestinians said the extremists attempted to hold Passover rituals outside the gate and even wanted to break into Al-Aqsa Mosque when residents confronted them and entered into a fight with them.

When police came to the scene, the extremists resisted attempts to keep them away and in the end five were arrested, said police.

M.K.