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Palestinians furious as Israel escorts Arab delegations to Al-Aqsa

Tension is rising at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where self-appointed Jerusalemite defenders are harassing Gulf Arab visitors who come under Israeli protection.

Palestinian Muslim worshippers hold a protest sign against the normalisation of ties between Israel and two Arab states, during Friday noon prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the old city of Jerusalem on September 18, 2020. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign ministers of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed agreements establishing full diplomatic ties at a ceremony at the White House. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Palestinian Muslim worshippers hold a protest sign against the normalization of ties between Israel and two Arab states during prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city of Jerusalem on Sept. 18, 2020. — AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Conflicts have been erupting at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the city of Jerusalem between Jerusalemite worshipers and some Arab and Islamic delegations visiting the mosque under the protection of the Israeli police. These visits, which are bound to become more frequent in the coming weeks in light of the normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain, have provoked angry public and official Palestinian reactions.

On Oct. 20, an official UAE delegation visited Israel for the first time and signed a set of cooperation agreements. They included a visa waiver between the two countries and an agreement for direct weekly flights.

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