RAMALLAH, West Bank — While suppressing a march in Bethlehem on Sept. 18 denouncing Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, several members of the Palestinian security forces assaulted a teenager, beating him with batons after he had fallen to the ground. Such repressive actions and others have triggered a public backlash that many observers think will put international pressure on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume negotiations.

Tensions between the two sides have risen in recent weeks, following accusations from Palestinians that Israeli forces have committed violations at the mosque. While the area housing the mosque — referred to by Palestinians as the Haram al-Sharif — is officially controlled by guards from the Jordanian Ministry of the Islamic Waqf and Jewish prayer is forbidden at the site, Israel has taken a number of measures to limit Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa so as not to interfere with visits by Jewish visitors. On Sept. 9, Israel issued a statement designating the Mourabitoun and Mourabitat as illegal groups. These groups, which were established seven years ago to maintain worship and conduct learning seminars at the mosque, suspend their activities when Jewish groups visit and watch them closely to ensure the ban of Jewish prayer is not violated. Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers have clashed a number of times this month, with each side accusing the other of provocation.

On the day the teenager was assaulted, the Palestinian national security apparatus formed a committee to investigate the use of force against him, and two days later decided to dismiss or detain nine security force personnel involved in the incident. This official response, however, did not calm the public's anger, as Palestinians again took to the streets Sept. 19-20 to voice their displeasure with the security forces and demand that President Mahmoud Abbas step aside. Some of the protesters pelted the security services headquarters with stones, and in response security forces members shot live bullets into the air, resulting in a number of injuries on both sides. Some nine security officers sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Similar clashes between civilians and security forces had taken place Sept. 15 in the Jenin refugee camp during a solidarity event highlighting Al-Aqsa. The situation escalated into an exchange of fire between security forces and a group of hooded youths. Three security officers were injured by live ammunition.