BBC news report for the day Sharon visited. And a quote from the BBC's profile of Sharon:-

"His controversial visit last year to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem, a site which is also holy to Jews, was the spark for the second Palestinian intifada (uprising).

Cynics say Mr Sharon knew the visit would trigger violence and gambled on the Israeli public turning to a tough leader like him who would know how to handle it firmly."

Graham.