Israel’s cabinet has approved a law change allowing harsher jail sentences of up to 20 years for stone throwers after tensions erupted again last week in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The move comes after months of rioting in east Jerusalem where Palestinian residents have thrown rocks and fire bombs at police, cars, buses and trains. Over the past 10 days, 110 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli police in the area.

The al-Aqsa compound, or Temple Mount, has become a central point in the escalating violence in the city. The compound houses Islam’s third-holiest site, but is also a sacred spot for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it once housed two Jewish temples.

The compound was closed last Thursday as a security precaution after anti-terrorist police shot dead a Palestinian man who was suspected of having tried to kill a far-right Jewish activist the night before. It was reopened on Friday for Muslim women and men over 50 for Friday prayer but the grounds were closed to other faiths and tourists.

According to Israel’s justice ministry, the proposed change to Israel’s penal code would make it possible for police to charge someone with throwing objects in a manner that is likely to cause harm. A jail sentence of 20 years would be possible. Previously those caught throwing stones could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

A committee led by the Israeli cabinet secretary, Avichai Mandelblit, found during its meetings that under current law the police and courts had limited power to punish stone throwers because the state had to prove the intent to cause harm.

There would be two major sentences for stone throwers – those who endanger the safety of someone inside a vehicle could be jailed for 10 years without proof there was intention to harm; those throwing stones at people could be sentenced for up to 20 years in prison without the need to prove they intended to cause serious bodily harm.

“Israel is taking vigorous action against terrorists and those who throw stones, fire bombs and fireworks,” said the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.

“We will also pass stronger legislation on the issue. All of this is in order to restore quiet and security throughout Jerusalem. I have ordered massive reinforcements be brought into Jerusalem and that additional means to used in order to ensure law and order in Israel’s capital.”

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said he wanted to see calm restored to Jerusalem and did not want an escalation of the situation. He added that Palestinians would not tolerate attacks on the al-Aqsa mosque grounds.

Barak Medina, professor of law at Hebrew University, said harsher sanctions on stone throwers was not going to be effective. “Many young people who throw stones are unaware of the law and are not often rational about their actions. I don’t think the justice system should be giving up on the rights of the accused just because of panic and concern.”

According to the Haaretz newspaper, the Jerusalem district prosecutors office has had a harsher municipal policy against Palestinian stone throwers in place since July, requesting remand for suspects until the end of proceedings. The new policy also applies to children and as a result dozens of Palestinian children have been jailed for a month or two before their trial begins.

The bill approved by cabinet needs to be brought to the ministerial committee on legislation and to the Knesset for a vote.