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More Jerusalem clashes feared as Israel searches for way to secure holy site More Jerusalem clashes feared as Israel searches for way to secure holy site
(about 4 hours later)
Israel’s security forces and Palestinian leaders are bracing for weeks of violence as the death toll in a bloody weekend of confrontations over Israel’s placement of metal detectors at the entrance to the compound housing the al-Aqsa mosque reached seven. Israeli officials insisted on Sunday they will not remove the metal detectors from outside a major Jerusalem mosque, whose installation triggered rapidly escalating confrontations with Palestinians, will not be removed.
The fears were voiced as Israel deployed thousands of extra troops to the West Bank, amid a stark call from the Middle East quartet – representing the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – urging all sides to “demonstrate maximum restraint”. Amid a mounting toll of deaths and injuries in the crisis, Israelis and Palestinians are braced for weeks of confrontation, as both sides appeared to dig into their positions.
With the UN security council due to discuss the mounting tensions around the holy site known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif – and revered by Jews as the Temple Mount – there were indications on Sunday that Israel may be considering replacing the metal detector gates with different, but still enhanced security measures, at the compound’s entrances. However they, too, are likely to be controversial. In addition to the metal detectors Israel has also began installing additional sophisticated security cameras at one of the entrances to the compound housing the Al Aqsa mosque, known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif and revered by Jews as the Temple Mount.
Indeed, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, on Sunday insisted on a complete return to previous arrangements at the site. Security officials told Israeli media that the new cameras were intended to complement the metal detectors, not replace them.
In the first indication, however, that it might be preparing for a partial climbdown, it was reported Israel was installing new security cameras at the entrance to a sensitive Jerusalem holy site on Sunday amid claims it was seeking an “alternative” to the metal detectors. Despite the remarks - and with Israeli generals warning the violence may spiral - other officials appeared to offer a contradictory message saying Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering alternatives to the walk-through sensors placed at entrances to al Aqsa mosque compound after two policemen were shot dead there on July 14.
The mixed signals emerging from the Israeli side have contributed to the sense of confusion driving the crisis, which has seen Israeli ministers reportedly overrule warnings from some senior security officials over the risk of stoking a widening confrontation with the installation of the devices.
But as Israel’s cabinet meeting on Sunday with the issue on top of the agenda, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli minister for regional development and a senior member of the ruling Likud party, told Israel’s Army Radio: “They (metal detectors) will remain. The murderers will never tell us how to search the murderers.
“If they (Palestinians) do not want to enter the mosque, then let them not enter the mosque.”
As other ministers warned of the risk of ‘large scale volatility,’ Israel deployed thousands of extra troops to the West Bank.
The UN Security Council will also hold closed-door talks Monday about the spiralling violence after Egypt, France and Sweden sought a meeting to “urgently discuss how calls for de-escalation in Jerusalem can be supported”.
In his Sunday sermon in Rome’s St Peter’s Square Pope Francis told worshippers he was following “with trepidation the grave tensions and violence” at the holy site as he appealed for ‘moderation and dialogue’.
In another indication of the hardening of positions, the Muslim authorities that oversee al Aqsa said they would continue to oppose any new Israeli-imposed measures.
“We stress our absolute rejection of the electronic gates, and of all measures by the Occupation (Israel) that would change the historical and religious status in Jerusalem and its sacred sites, foremost the blessed Aqsa mosque,” the Palestinian grand mufti, the acting Palestinian chief justice and the Jordanian-sponsored Waqf religious trust said in a joint statement.
The issue exploded into more serious violence on Friday, after days of night time clashes after the metal detectors installation which followed an attack on 14 July which killed two Israeli policemen at the entrance to the site by three Israeli Arabs who Israel says smuggled weapons into the compound.The issue exploded into more serious violence on Friday, after days of night time clashes after the metal detectors installation which followed an attack on 14 July which killed two Israeli policemen at the entrance to the site by three Israeli Arabs who Israel says smuggled weapons into the compound.
In escalating clashes since Friday, four Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with Israeli security forces – that has seen Israeli troops use live fire, stun grenades and water cannon on protesters – while a family of three Israeli settlers was stabbed to death by a Palestinian who entered their home in the West Bank. In clashes which have grown in intensity since mass protests on Friday, four Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with Israeli security forces , while a family of three Israeli settlers was stabbed to death by a Palestinian who entered their home in the West Bank citing the issues around the Al Aqsa mosque as his motive
The sheer scale of the risks involved was made clear on Sunday morning when Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas – who has long threatened to end security cooperation with Israel – cancelled a planned security meeting after announcing he was cutting all contacts.The sheer scale of the risks involved was made clear on Sunday morning when Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas – who has long threatened to end security cooperation with Israel – cancelled a planned security meeting after announcing he was cutting all contacts.
At the centre of the issue has been two competing impetuses. The first has been the politics of Israel’s right – far right coalition, led by prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, which, say critics, led his cabinet to ignore warnings from senior security officials when deciding to install the metal detectors.At the centre of the issue has been two competing impetuses. The first has been the politics of Israel’s right – far right coalition, led by prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, which, say critics, led his cabinet to ignore warnings from senior security officials when deciding to install the metal detectors.
The second is centred on the profound Palestinian religious, national and cultural sensitivities around the compound.The second is centred on the profound Palestinian religious, national and cultural sensitivities around the compound.
And at the centre of the violence has been a deadly miscalculation by the Netanyahu government that bridged both issues, which saw police recommend the installation of the metal detectors in the immediate aftermath of the 14 July attack.And at the centre of the violence has been a deadly miscalculation by the Netanyahu government that bridged both issues, which saw police recommend the installation of the metal detectors in the immediate aftermath of the 14 July attack.
Persuaded by the idea it would play well with rightwing politicians and voters who had had called for Israel to impose further sovereignty over the site, Netanyahu ignored reported warnings from other security officials, including the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, that it could spark bloodshed.Persuaded by the idea it would play well with rightwing politicians and voters who had had called for Israel to impose further sovereignty over the site, Netanyahu ignored reported warnings from other security officials, including the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, that it could spark bloodshed.
Compounding the error, it now appears, Israel also failed to discuss the issue with officials of the waqf – the Jordanian religious institution which administers the compound. Compounding the error, say critics, Israel also failed to discuss the issue with officials of the waqf – the Jordanian religious institution which administers the compound.
On the Palestinian side the issue is visceral. Captured by Israel in 1967, the site – regarded by most of the international community as “occupied” although claimed by Israel – is seen as a centre of Palestinian national identity that exists above both factional politics and disagreements over strategy. On the Palestinian side the issue is visceral.
Captured by Israel in 1967, the site – regarded by most of the international community as “occupied” although claimed by Israel – is seen as a centre of Palestinian national identity that exists above both factional politics and disagreements over strategy.
A unifying idea, its significance as a national symbol is embraced by secular and religious, making it one of the conflict’s most dangerous flashpoints. The location – as commentators on both sides have been quick to point out – triggered the Second Intifada in 2000 after a similar Israeli political misjudgment when then opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the site.A unifying idea, its significance as a national symbol is embraced by secular and religious, making it one of the conflict’s most dangerous flashpoints. The location – as commentators on both sides have been quick to point out – triggered the Second Intifada in 2000 after a similar Israeli political misjudgment when then opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the site.
Justifying their suspicions about Israel’s motives, Palestinian religious officials and worshippers have pointed to their past experience over the Ibrahimi mosque-Tomb of the Patriarchs site in northern West Bank city of Hebron where they claim similar measures were used by Israel to control access.Justifying their suspicions about Israel’s motives, Palestinian religious officials and worshippers have pointed to their past experience over the Ibrahimi mosque-Tomb of the Patriarchs site in northern West Bank city of Hebron where they claim similar measures were used by Israel to control access.
Palestinians have rejected Israel’s insistence that metal detectors for security at major religious sites – like Mecca – are the norm not the exception.
“It is a big difference,” said one Palestinian worshipper, Jawad Bibis, outside the site over the weekend. “In Mecca Saudi Arabia has placed metal detectors for the protection of the citizens. This is about an occupying power placing controls over access to al-Aqsa over which it has no right.”
All of which has led to the increasingly stark warnings. “Violence is likely to worsen absent a major policy shift,” said Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “Netanyahu’s mistake was installing the metal detectors without a Muslim interlocutor. It is the coercive character more than the security measure itself that made this unacceptable for Palestinians.”All of which has led to the increasingly stark warnings. “Violence is likely to worsen absent a major policy shift,” said Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “Netanyahu’s mistake was installing the metal detectors without a Muslim interlocutor. It is the coercive character more than the security measure itself that made this unacceptable for Palestinians.”
That bleak assessment has been shared by a number of Israeli commentators including the veteran columnist Nahum Barnea writing in Yedioth Ahoronth on Sunday. “The writing was on the wall – it was on the table, in was in every discussion held, in the assessments made by the professionals, veteran [Shin Bet] agents and police officials ...
“In meetings that were held after the metal detectors had already been installed, both the [Shin Bet]and the IDF [Israeli military] warned that that decision was liable to spark a terrible wave of violence in Israel in the territories and to destabilise moderate Arab regimes.”