JERUSALEM--Although the streets of Israel's capital are quieter Wednesday than they have been in recent days, thousands of policemen are deployed to prevent more outbursts by Muslim rioters near the Old City's Temple Mount. 

Mohammad Dahlan, a former security chief and current aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opened "the battle of Jerusalem," and warned of a potential "explosion in the region."

Palestinians in East Jerusalem are angry that the police have closed off the Temple Mount (which includes the Al Aqsa Mosque) to Muslim men under age 50 to prevent violence when they come for prayer. 

Last week, Palestinians throwing rocks injured 30 tourists, and police have discovered a large collection of rocks in a mosque, which they believe were for use against police and praying celebrants during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Sheikh Raed Salah, one of the chief instigators of the violence, was arrested Wednesday and later released on the condition that he not enter Jerusalem for 30 days.

Sources:  The Media Line, Ha'aretz