Members of the Likud Knesset faction toured the Temple Mount this morning for close to an hour. Dozens of Palestinian youths tried to get close to the visitors, but they were held at bay by a huge cordon of Israeli policemen. Stones and other objects were hurled at the Likud members as they left the Temple Mount compound, and the policemen fired rubber bullets. The Palestinians report four people wounded. Dozens of Israeli policemen were hurt by stones. Ya'ir Yitzhaqi, Jerusalem District Commander, said he had tried to establish a dialogue with Waqf officials to avoid violence, this failed, making it necessary to use force to calm down tempers. Over 20 policemen were wounded by stones hurled by Palestinians as the Likud delegation left the Temple Mount compound.

The tour of the Temple Mount was accompanied by a sharp verbal confrontation between Likud faction members and Israeli Arab Mks.

Responding at a subsequent news conference to the calls of "out with the murderer" and "Al-Aqsa is Palestinian" hurled at him by the Arab MKs, Sharon says in a recorded passage: "These calls were made by a bunch of inciters, who have been consistently acting against Israel and its policy. I am talking about the MKs of the anti-Israeli, anti- Zionist, and anti-Jewish parties, who are today inflaming Israel's Arabs, most of whom -- I believe -- want to live in peace."

Asked whether the visit was worthwhile in light of the huge number of troops required to see to his security and the casualty toll suffered by the police, Sharon replies: "Of course, I'm sorry about the people who were hurt, and I wish them a speedy recovery. However, it is the right of a Jew in Israel to visit the Temple Mount and it is inconceivable that a Jew should not be allowed to visit the Temple Mount, the most sacred place to the Jewish people." Sharon said addressing a group of Temple Mount Faithful supporters standing nearby, "This has not been my last visit to the site, and if elected prime minister, I will strengthen Israel's sovereignty on the Temple Mount."

Ultra-left-wing MKs expressed their outrage at the visit. Yosi Sarid said the incident was the first result of the race between Sharon and Netanyahu for the Likud's leadership. Ran Kohen said that Sharon and the Likud want to set Jerusalem on fire. Four Arab MKs arrived at the site during the tour, and clashed verbally with their Likud colleagues. MKs Ahmad al-Tibi and Abd-al-Malik Dahamshah said that border policemen beat them up and threw them to the ground.

Clashes took place when the citizens attempted to penetrate the cordon put up to prevent them from reaching the provocative convoy led by extremist Likud leader Ari'el Sharon to the courtyards of the Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

The occupation police attacked a number of citizens, including Faysal al-Husayni, official in charge of the Jerusalem file, who was present along with several Palestinian officials and hundreds of citizens in the courtyards. The occupiers surrounded the Al-Haram Al- Sharif to facilitate Sharon's provocative visit, who came to the old city of Jerusalem to create problems and provoke the sentiments of Muslims in Palestine and the world. Faisal Husseini lashed out at Sharon, calling him the "hero of Sabra and Shatila," a reference to the massacre of hundreds of innocent Palestinians in a refugee camp in Lebanon.

"This is not a visit, it is a provocative and vindictive demonstration that is meant to infuriate the Arabs. He could have come to visit as a regular visitor during regular visit hours, but this was not his intention," said Husseini.

Husseini said the episode of the visit showed that Israel only militarily controls the Haram al-Sharif, but has no sovereignty over it.

"If he was convinced that Israel was sovereign here he would have come to the Haram al-Sharif with his head aloft and without a mini army escorting him," he added.

Several citizens were wounded, some of them bled after they were beaten by the special unit of the occupation Army. The special unit also assailed Arab Knesset and Palestinian Legislative Council members. Dr. Ahmad al-Tibi and Abd al-Malik Dahamishah were wounded.

Deputy Ahmad Sughayyir sustained wounds after he was pushed down the stairs of the Al-Marwani worshipping place. The Special Unit of the occupation police is continuing its repressive, violent acts against citizens. The stairs of the Al-Marwani worshipping place are stained with blood lost by citizens who were beaten by clubs on their heads and other parts of their bodies.

The number of soldiers were estimated at more than 2000. They turned the courtyards of the Al-Haram Al-Sharif to an occupied area and a huge military barrack. Citizens were shouting slogans condemning the visit and shouts of "God is great" [Allahu Akhbar] can be heard. Sharon could see before his very eyes the brutal assault on every citizen. They also assaulted Nabulus Governor Mahmud al-Alul and men of religion. If tension continues, it may lead to tragic results, God forbid.

Yasir Arafat has described the provocative visit to Al-Haram al-Sharif [Temple Mount] by Ari'el Sharon as a serious step against the Islamic holy places. In a statement upon his arrival at the Presidential Headquarters in Gaza this morning, Arafat called on the Arab and Islamic world to move immediately to stop these aggressions and Israeli practices against holy Jerusalem. Arafat said: "This is a serious step by Sharon against the Islamic holy places, against the first kiblah and the third holy shrine, and against the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.

Further inflaming the Palestinian masses, Hamas issued a statement yesterday in which it urged "the sons of our Palestinian people to go tomorrow, Thursday (today), to Al-Aqsa Mosque to confront the terrorist Sharon, prevent him from entering the Mosque and its squares, and resist his attempt to desecrate them regardless of the sacrifices."

Joining Hamas was the Palestinian Information Ministry who issued a statement yesterday warning of a catastrophe if Sharon goes ahead and enters Al-Aqsa Mosque today. In the statement, the Ministry urged the Israeli Government to ban the "provocative visit so as to avert a new massacre of Palestinian citizens in Al-Aqsa Mosque's squares similar to the one committed by the occupation forces on 8 October 1990. That massacre followed the attempt by a group of Israeli terrorists led by Gershon Solomon to lay down the foundation for the alleged Temple in the grounds of Al-Aqsa Mosque."