Israelis mark Tisha B’Av

Tens of thousands of Jews visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem to mark the solemn day of Tisha b’Av.

Worshipers who gathered Tuesday to commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples recited the Book of Lamentations while sitting on the ground in front of the Wall.

Two Jewish worshipers were removed from the Temple Mount Plaza, The Jerusalem Post reported, after asking for permission to pray at the site, which is prohibited for Jews.  Two Arabs also were removed from the area after attempting to incite other Arabs against the Jewish worshipers, according to the Post.

Worshipers had come to the Wall to pray and recite Lamentations on Monday night, when the commemoration began.

The party atmosphere at the protest tent city on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv was dampened for Tisha b’Av, with the reading of Lamentations and lectures.

On Sunday, the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel asked Mayor Ron Huldai in a letter to call on the tent city to respect the solemn day.