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Israel closes Al-Aqsa mosque compound to all visitors Israel closes Al-Aqsa mosque compound to all visitors
(35 minutes later)
Israel on Thursday ordered the first full closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City in 14 years, in a move denounced by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as “tantamount to a declaration of war”.Israel on Thursday ordered the first full closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City in 14 years, in a move denounced by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as “tantamount to a declaration of war”.
The closure of the religious site, venerated by both Muslims and Jews, came after anti-terrorist police shot dead a 32-year-old Palestinian man on Thursday morning who was suspected of having tried to kill a far-right Jewish activist the night before.The closure of the religious site, venerated by both Muslims and Jews, came after anti-terrorist police shot dead a 32-year-old Palestinian man on Thursday morning who was suspected of having tried to kill a far-right Jewish activist the night before.
In the aftermath of the shootings Israeli security forces swamped the Old City and Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem with extra reinforcements – some called in from the West Bank – as helicopters flew overhead and observation balloons were deployed in several locations.In the aftermath of the shootings Israeli security forces swamped the Old City and Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem with extra reinforcements – some called in from the West Bank – as helicopters flew overhead and observation balloons were deployed in several locations.
The Al-Aqsa compound, or Temple Mount, which has become a central point in the escalating violence in the city in recent months, was closed to all visitors as a security precaution. The Al-Aqsa compound, or Temple Mount, which has become a central point in the escalating violence in the city in recent months, was closed to all visitors as a security precaution. Israeli police said the mosque would reopen after midnight, for dawn prayers. “It was decided to restore (the compound) to normal,” police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP, adding that because of a fear of unrest at Friday midday prayers, entry for Muslim men would be restricted to those over 50.
The compound houses Islam’s third holiest site, but is also the most sacred spot for Jews who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it once housed two Jewish temples.The compound houses Islam’s third holiest site, but is also the most sacred spot for Jews who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it once housed two Jewish temples.
In a further escalation of the rhetoric around the site, Abbas’s Fatah movement called for a “day of rage” for Friday.In a further escalation of the rhetoric around the site, Abbas’s Fatah movement called for a “day of rage” for Friday.
Muataz Hijazi – a former Palestinian prisoner and member of Islamic Jihad – was shot dead on the roof of his family’s home in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Abu Tor by anti-terrorist police just before 6am on Thursday, as he hid behind solar panels.Muataz Hijazi – a former Palestinian prisoner and member of Islamic Jihad – was shot dead on the roof of his family’s home in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Abu Tor by anti-terrorist police just before 6am on Thursday, as he hid behind solar panels.
Israeli police sources said he had opened fire on them before being killed – a claim his family denied. Hijazi was suspected of shooting and wounding Rabbi Yehuda Glick, an activist who has led a campaign for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa compound.Israeli police sources said he had opened fire on them before being killed – a claim his family denied. Hijazi was suspected of shooting and wounding Rabbi Yehuda Glick, an activist who has led a campaign for Jews to be allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa compound.
The attempted assassination of Glick was the second attack on Jews in the city in just over a week following a deadly incident last week in which a Palestinian man drove his car into pedestrians at a tram stop killing two people, one of them a three-month-old baby.The attempted assassination of Glick was the second attack on Jews in the city in just over a week following a deadly incident last week in which a Palestinian man drove his car into pedestrians at a tram stop killing two people, one of them a three-month-old baby.
After Glick’s shooting, far-right Jewish groups urged supporters to march on Al-Aqsa on Thursday morning – prompting its closure.After Glick’s shooting, far-right Jewish groups urged supporters to march on Al-Aqsa on Thursday morning – prompting its closure.
Addressing a security meeting Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu appeared to call for calm. “First of all, the flames must be lowered,” Netanyahu said. “No one on either side should take the law into his own hands. We need to act now with cool heads, responsibility and determination, and that is what we shall do.”Addressing a security meeting Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu appeared to call for calm. “First of all, the flames must be lowered,” Netanyahu said. “No one on either side should take the law into his own hands. We need to act now with cool heads, responsibility and determination, and that is what we shall do.”
Hijazi’s killing follows Wednesday night’s shooting of Glick as he left a conference in Jerusalem on the question of the Temple Mount, attended by right-wing MPs among others.Hijazi’s killing follows Wednesday night’s shooting of Glick as he left a conference in Jerusalem on the question of the Temple Mount, attended by right-wing MPs among others.
According to the police and Israeli media accounts, Hijazi – who reportedly worked in the canteen of the Begin Centre where Glick was shot – approached the rabbi, confirmed his identity and shot him four times at close range.According to the police and Israeli media accounts, Hijazi – who reportedly worked in the canteen of the Begin Centre where Glick was shot – approached the rabbi, confirmed his identity and shot him four times at close range.
Shai Malka, Feiglin’s spokesman, described the moment of Glick’s shooting: “I stood next to him. The conference was over and he went outside to load his car. Next to it stood a Palestinian motorcyclist wearing black. I saw his gun and I yelled to the woman with me ‘run, escape.’ We started running. The Palestinian said to him: ‘Sorry, I have to do this,’ and shot him.”Shai Malka, Feiglin’s spokesman, described the moment of Glick’s shooting: “I stood next to him. The conference was over and he went outside to load his car. Next to it stood a Palestinian motorcyclist wearing black. I saw his gun and I yelled to the woman with me ‘run, escape.’ We started running. The Palestinian said to him: ‘Sorry, I have to do this,’ and shot him.”
Hijazi had been jailed in 2002 for security offences committed during the Al-Aqsa intifada in 2002 and had been released in 2012.Hijazi had been jailed in 2002 for security offences committed during the Al-Aqsa intifada in 2002 and had been released in 2012.
Neighbours of Hijazi described hearing a burst of gunfire at about 5.30am as armed police swamped the area. Hijazi was shot after fleeing to the roof of his house, where bloodstains were still visible.Neighbours of Hijazi described hearing a burst of gunfire at about 5.30am as armed police swamped the area. Hijazi was shot after fleeing to the roof of his house, where bloodstains were still visible.
Speaking to the Guardian after the removal of Hijazi’s body, his aunt Taghreed said: “I saw everything. I was at my kitchen window when the police came in.” Contradicting the police account she said he had been beaten before being shot – a claim the Guardian could not confirm.Speaking to the Guardian after the removal of Hijazi’s body, his aunt Taghreed said: “I saw everything. I was at my kitchen window when the police came in.” Contradicting the police account she said he had been beaten before being shot – a claim the Guardian could not confirm.
Neighbours of the Hijazi family added that they were woken by the sound of shooting and that police shot plastic rounds at those who had tried to leave their houses to see what was happening.Neighbours of the Hijazi family added that they were woken by the sound of shooting and that police shot plastic rounds at those who had tried to leave their houses to see what was happening.
“It was between 5.30am and 5.40am,” Ra’ad Aliyan, a pharmacist who lives next door, told the Guardian as police kept reporters from Hijazi’s house. Another resident of the same building, Mandi Burkan, showed a back injury where he said he had been hit by a plastic round trying to go and see what was happening.“It was between 5.30am and 5.40am,” Ra’ad Aliyan, a pharmacist who lives next door, told the Guardian as police kept reporters from Hijazi’s house. Another resident of the same building, Mandi Burkan, showed a back injury where he said he had been hit by a plastic round trying to go and see what was happening.
As police removed Hijazi’s body residents threw objects from their balconies on one group while police fired teargas and stun-grenades.As police removed Hijazi’s body residents threw objects from their balconies on one group while police fired teargas and stun-grenades.
US-born Glick is closely associated with the Temple Mount Faithful – a religious right wing group that seeks to rebuild a Jewish temple on the site that contains the al-Aqsa mosque and where the ancient second Jewish temple reputedly once stood. Glick often led groups of religious Jews to visit the site and had been a key speaker at the conference billed as “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount” with MPs Moshe Feiglin and Miri Regev.US-born Glick is closely associated with the Temple Mount Faithful – a religious right wing group that seeks to rebuild a Jewish temple on the site that contains the al-Aqsa mosque and where the ancient second Jewish temple reputedly once stood. Glick often led groups of religious Jews to visit the site and had been a key speaker at the conference billed as “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount” with MPs Moshe Feiglin and Miri Regev.
Feiglin, a highly controversial figure in his own right who critics have accused of stoking tensions at the religious site, told the Israeli website Ynet: ”What happened is horrible but very expected. Glick was constantly threatened. The fact that he was not assigned protection at all times is a failure. I say this as someone who is the target of constant incitement.”Feiglin, a highly controversial figure in his own right who critics have accused of stoking tensions at the religious site, told the Israeli website Ynet: ”What happened is horrible but very expected. Glick was constantly threatened. The fact that he was not assigned protection at all times is a failure. I say this as someone who is the target of constant incitement.”
The shooting of Hijazi was followed by clashes with police. But more dangerous in the short-term may be the decision by Israel to close the Al-Aqsa compound to all visitors.The shooting of Hijazi was followed by clashes with police. But more dangerous in the short-term may be the decision by Israel to close the Al-Aqsa compound to all visitors.
Israel maintains that it allows free prayer to all, but Palestinians claim it is unilaterally widening access to accommodate larger numbers of Jewish worshippers.Israel maintains that it allows free prayer to all, but Palestinians claim it is unilaterally widening access to accommodate larger numbers of Jewish worshippers.
The Palestinians see this as Jewish encroachment on the site, the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, while Jewish activists like Glick say they are being discriminated against by limiting their chances to pray atop the mount.The Palestinians see this as Jewish encroachment on the site, the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, while Jewish activists like Glick say they are being discriminated against by limiting their chances to pray atop the mount.
Israel accuses Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas of inciting the recent violence.Israel accuses Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas of inciting the recent violence.
Abbas has recently called for Jews to be banned from the site and urged Palestinians to guard the compound from visiting Jews, whom he called a “herd of cattle.”Abbas has recently called for Jews to be banned from the site and urged Palestinians to guard the compound from visiting Jews, whom he called a “herd of cattle.”
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has yet to hear a word of condemnation from the world against Abbas’ incitement to violence.Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has yet to hear a word of condemnation from the world against Abbas’ incitement to violence.