Clashes raged in east Jerusalem today after police shot dead a Palestinian accused of trying to kill a Jewish hardliner, prompting officials to close the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Israel said its closure of the shrine, which is holy to Jews and Muslims, was a temporary measure aimed at calming tempers, but Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said it was tantamount to a 'declaration of war'.

Wednesday night's shooting incident and the subsequent killing of the suspected gunman sent tensions soaring to a new high, following months of almost daily clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in the occupied eastern sector of the Holy City.

Scroll down for video

Flash point: Violence erupted in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Abu Tor hours after police killed a man accused of shooting an Israeli hardliner

Chaos: A Palestinian youth stands in front of a burning van during clashes with Israeli police

David and Goliath: A young Palestinian stretches the elastic on his catapult to fire a rock at Israeli riot police

Fighting for a nation: A youth wrapped in the Palestinian flag clutches rocks as he approaches police lines

Makeshift: A Palestinian youth fires a firework at police during the clashes on the streets of east Jerusalem

A barely pubescent Palestinian boy holds rocks and makes victory signs for the camera during the clashes

Residents of the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Abu Tor were left reeling after the early morning police raid which killed 32-year-old Muataz Hijazi.

Israel said he was behind the attempt to gun down hardline activist Yehuda Glick, who has lobbied for Jewish prayer rights at the Al-Aqsa compound.

Police said Hijazi began shooting at officers who returned fire, killing him. But his family had a different version.

'They burst into the house shortly before 6:00 am, ransacked Muataz's room and then shot him on the roof,' said his brother Khalil, 34.

The radical Islamic Jihad movement said Hijazi was one of its militants.

Inside the house, the living room still reeked of tear gas from the raid, and on nearby sidestreets riot police were firing gas canisters and rubber bullets at around 50 stone-throwing Palestinian youths in clashes that erupted after the shooting.

The latest violence started just hours after a gunman on a motorcycle shot and wounded Yehuda Glick (pictured), leaving him in hospital in a critical condition

Moatez Higazi, a suspect in the attack on Mr Glick, was shot dead by security forces on the roof of his house in east Jerusalem earlier today

The mother of Palestinian Islamic Jihad member Muataz Hijazi shows a picture of her son after he was killed by Israeli security forces

The closure of the mosque further outraged Palestinians.

A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas quoted the Palestinian leader as saying: 'This dangerous Israeli escalation is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people and its sacred places and on the Arab and Islamic nation.

'We hold the Israeli government responsible for this dangerous escalation in Jerusalem that has reached its peak through the closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque this morning,' Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

The compound houses Islam’s third holiest site, but is also the most sacred spot for Jews who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it once housed two Jewish temples.

Although non-Muslims can visit the site, Jews are not allowed to pray there for fear it could disturb the fragile status quo.

'This decision is a dangerous act and a blatant challenge that will lead to more tension and instability and will create a negative and dangerous atmosphere,' he said.

Higazi was an Islamic militant recently released from prison

Shortly after Higazi was shot dead, clashes broke out in Abu Tor, with Palestinians hurling stones at riot police

Residents gathered on rooftops, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans while police set up checkpoints to control access in and out of the neighborhood

A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas (pictured) quoted the Palestinian leader as saying the Israeli closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque was tantamount to 'a declaration of war'

'The state of Palestine will take all legal measures to hold Israel accountable and to stop these ongoing attacks.'

Jordan's Islamic Waqf, which has responsibility for the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, confirmed it was the first time such a measure had been taken since Israel seized Arab east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War.

But a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the closure of the compound was a temporary measure aimed at restoring calm.

'Closing the Temple Mount is temporary and meant to prevent riots and escalation as well as to restore calm and status quo to the Holy Places,' Ofir Gendelman said in a statement.

Shortly after Higazi was shot dead, clashes broke out in Abu Tor, with Palestinians hurling stones at riot police, who responded with rubber bullets.

A Palestinian man shoots fireworks at Israeli security forces during clashes in the Abu Tor area of Jerusalem

High alert: An Israeli policeman aims his weapon during clashes with Palestinians inside the old city of Jerusalem today

Abu Tor straddles west Jerusalem and the occupied eastern sector, which was seized by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War

CONTROVERSIAL PLAN THAT COULD SILENCE MUSLIM CALL TO PRAYER As tensions continue to rise in Jerusalem it has been revealed that an Israeli MP is proposing legislation that could effectively silence the Muslim call to prayer. Robert Ilatov, a member of Benjamin Natanyahu's coalition, is putting forward plans that could put limits on the calls from mosques across the country, according to the Daily Telegraph. The newspaper reports that the legislation is being justified on the grounds that the prayer calls create 'intolerable noise' that disturbs residents’ sleep. But a similar plan put forward three years ago was axed amid fears it could cause divisions. As tensions continue to mount in Jerusalem (pictured) an Israeli MP has proposed legislation that could effectively silence the Muslim call to prayer There are also fears the move could prompt accusations of religious intolerance. It is understood that the bill could go before the ministerial committee for legislation within a matter of weeks. If passed it would mean the interior minister would have powers to determine whether public address systems could be set up in ‘houses of prayer’. The newspaper reports that this amounts to a veto over whether a mosque can broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, known as adhan which happens five times a day - including before dawn. The bill says: ‘Hundreds of thousands of citizens in Israel, in the Galilee, the Negev, Jerusalem and other locations in central Israel suffer on a regular basis from noise that is caused by muezzin [prayer caller] calls in mosques.’ Advertisement

Residents gathered on rooftops chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, while police set up checkpoints to control access in and out of the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, around 50 far-right Jewish activists held a protest near the ramp leading to the Maghreb Gate, the only entrance for non-Muslims to the Al-Aqsa plaza, an AFP correspondent said.

They waved Israeli flags and shouted: 'Liberate the Temple Mount!' before dispersing without incident. Police said four of them were arrested for trying to force their way on to the plaza.

Abu Tor straddles west Jerusalem and the occupied eastern sector, which was seized by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War.

Defiance: Israeli police grab a Jewish settler who was trying to jump a barrier to cross into the al-Aqsa mosque

Clash: Settlers tussle with police officers at the edge of the plaza, which has been closed for the time being

Emotions: An Israeli protester shouts at the police officers. Jews are not permitted to pray at the site

Contested: Police said four far-right activists were arrested for trying to force their way on to the plaza

Higazi was killed just hours after Glick, a rightwing Jewish activist, was attacked and seriously wounded. His condition improved overnight to serious but stable, the hospital where he is being treated said.

Glick, who is known for his lobbying to secure Jewish prayer rights at the Al Aqsa mosque compound, had just attended a debate on the issue at the Menachem Begin Heritage Centre.

Rumours that Israel was poised to legislate changes to the current situation have triggered weeks of unrest and clashes in and around the plaza.

Violence erupted over the summer after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed by militants in the West Bank.

Jewish extremists retaliated by kidnapping and burning to death a Palestinian teenager in east Jerusalem, sparking violent riots.

The unrest continued throughout the summer after Israel attacked Gaza in response to heavy Hamas rocket fire.

Meanwhile, Israel has come under fire after a UN official warned in an emergency meeting of the Security Council that plans for further settlements in east Jerusalem threaten the viability of the future Palestinian state.

The US also warned against Israel's plans.

Road blocks were set up moments after Yehuda Glick was shot having attended a debate at the Menachem Begin Heritage Centre

Mr Glick is known for his lobbying to secure Jewish prayer rights at the Al Aqsa mosque compound

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) defended plans for new settlements earlier this week

The council met at the request of member Jordan on behalf of the Palestinians, who are insisting upon a halt to such settlement efforts.

Tensions have been revived between Arabs and Jews over Israel's plans to build about 1,000 housing units in east Jerusalem, the part of the city the Palestinians demand for their future state.

UN political chief Jeffrey Feltman said the settlements, if pursued, would raise ‘grave doubts’ about Israel's plans for a durable peace solution with the Palestinians, especially as wounds from the latest conflict in Gaza continue to heal.

He warned the latest developments move the situation ‘ever closer to a one-state reality.’

Israel's ambassador, Ron Prosor, said his country is doing everything possible to minimize tensions. The Palestinian ambassador, Riyad Mansour, said Israel is not listening and called the situation ‘explosive’.

Feltman suggested the Security Council take action on the issue, and pushed both sides to remedy tensions through negotiations.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the new settlement plans, saying there was a wide consensus in Israel to continue building throughout the east Jerusalem.