on the mount.

At the same time, the number of Jewish visitors to the site has increased over the years, raising fears among Muslims that this is part of a gradual Jewish takeover.

Tension escalated further on Wednesday after Israeli security forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian religious trust that administers Al-Aqsa, said two people were injured inside, and that Israeli security forces used foam-tipped bullets, stun grenades and tear gas against protesters.

Israeli security forces also damaged the mosque's doors, burnt carpets and broke glass during the confrontation, the Waqf said.

Later on Wednesday, a Palestinian man rammed his car into two groups of pedestrians. A second Israeli died on Friday from injuries sustained in the attack, after a border police officer was killed at the scene.

It wasthe second such deadly attack by a Palestinian driving a car in two weeks. In both cases, the perpetrators were shot dead by police.

The EU's new foreign affairs chief said the upsurge in violence made it all the more critical that Israel and the Palestinians resume talks.

"The risk of growing tensions here in Jerusalem ... is that, if we do not move forward on the political track, we will go back, and back again to violence," Federica Mogherini told reporters on Friday after meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman during her first official visit to the region.

The last talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in April after months of largely fruitless negotiations.