Protesters hurled firebombs and rocks at the Israeli troops but overall, the demonstration wrapped up without intense clashes.

Curbing Iran's aspirations in the Middle East is in the interest of both Israel and the United States.

"What is happening is a blatant and dangerous violation of the status quo," says Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, a top official with the Islamic trust that administers the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. "The Israeli police must stop providing protection to extremists."

Washington believes diplomacy "best way to put a ceiling on Iran's nuclear program and roll back the gains that Iran has made over recent years,” senior US official says, but “if that doesn't work, there are other avenues to pursue.”

Rabbi Rasson Arousi, chair of the Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel for Dialogue with the Holy See, says comments on the Torah by Pope Francis appear to suggest Jewish law was obsolete.