A week after an assassination attempt on a prominent Israeli-American in the Temple Mount movement and the first closure of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in 14 years, turbulence continued in Jerusalem with clashes inside the al-Aqsa mosque and a vehicle attack that left one killed. In response Jordan, the administrator of the Muslim holy site, recalled its ambassador.
In the early afternoon suspected motorist Ibrahim al-Akari, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat, drove his car into a group of border police and in a later incident into light rail passengers in Sheikh Jarrah, near the Old City, injuring 14.
Israel’s Ynet reported after the crash, al-Akari leapt from the car. He then attempted to assault pedestrians with a metal pole. Police gunned the man down.
“We will respond to any attempt to undermine the order and stability of Israel’s capital with an iron fist,” the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said later in the day at a special Knesset memorial for the late head of state Yitzhak Rabin on the anniversary of his assassination 19 years ago. The turmoil over the past week could lead to “a prolonged battle,” he warned. Netanyahu underscored that despite the nationally motivated attack, Jerusalem’s status was not being argued through street violence. “Jerusalem is not up for debate,” he said closing the ceremony with a Rabin speech from 22 years earlier that promised “‘an expansion of building in Greater Jerusalem. All Jews, religious and secular alike, swear, ‘If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.’”
Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat issued condolences that echoed Netanyahu. He said Jerusalem had entered a “battle” and “the message we will send the terrorists,” is that “We are here to stay. We will not budge. We will overcome the challenges and win this battle.”
Netanyahu’s message came hours after Hamas and Islamic Jihad both claimed responsibility for the attack, although both denied it was an ordered operation. “Al-Akari, whose blood was shed in Jerusalem, rose up for his people, his city, Jerusalem, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” said Hamas.
Yet hours before Israel and Hamas were exchanging condemnations and praise, instability had taken Jerusalem, which has easily become the most sensitive issue overtaking the tenuous negotiations for a long-term ceasefire in Gaza.
By sunrise border police had begun limiting Muslim entrance into the al-Aqsa mosque. Religious Jews were at the same time granted entry to continue days of protests and prayers that started last Wednesday after the shooting of right-wing activist Yehuda Glick, a leader in the Temple Mount movement.
It is assumed Glick was targeted because of his public calls for Jews to be granted access to pray at perhaps the most contested square in Jerusalem, the Haram al-Sharif or Temple Mount. It houses the Muslim sacred site al-Aqsa mosque and a much-revered place in Judaism, the location of two destroyed synagogues and prophesized setting for a future house of worship. Observant Jews believe a Third Temple will be constructed inside the compound. The most extreme view calls for the immediate destruction of Islam’s third most prized site, al-Aqsa mosque. But many in the Temple Mount movement, including Glick, call for a sharing arrangement to the Haram al-Sharif.
Since 1967 the Haram al-Sharif has been under the stewardship of the Islamic Waqf based in Jordan, per an arrangement brokered by Moshe Dayan. Because the Haram al-Sharif is beyond the pre-June 1967 line, the international community views any change in the status of the complex, and presence of soldiers or settlers inside of the mosque as an aggression in occupied Palestinian territory. In his Rabin memorial Netanyahu stated there was no Israeli attempts to change the prayer arrangement at the Haram al-Sharif, “This is slander from extremists,” he said, continuing, “they complain about us? I mean, who is protecting and who is destroying?” he said in reference to on-going conflict throughout the Arab World, naming the Taliban and the Islamic State.
To Palestinians the issue is broader than prayer inside of the Haram al-Sharif. They contend Israel does not have the authority to grant access to the compound, and the recent limitations to Muslims and daily visits of observant Jews are demonstrative of a creeping Israeli annexation over the site. Last week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas deemed the mosque’s closure to Muslims and simultaneous entry to Israelis a “declaration of war.”
“I think it’s a place of peace and a place of prayer and it should be open to all of the people all of the time,” said Avi Noam Sabato, 38, a food engineer from the West Bank settlement of Negahot in the South Hebron hills. Sabato arrived shortly after daybreak hopeful of entering the Haram al-Sharif. Observant Jews are barred from praying inside of the religious complex, but a growing trend for many of the faithful is to sing incantations outside the grounds and then enter for a tour under police protection. Their presence inside of the Haram al-Sharif is a regular catalyst for clashes between Palestinians and police.
“There’s no reason to prevent people from coming inside,” continued Sabato as sound grenades and tear gas blasted meters away from inside of the Haram al-Sharif. Overhead, police in riot gear were perched on the Western Wall edge of the plaza. “The problem is because this is a place of peace, the problem is they give—the violent people—Arabs are trying to prevent us. This is causing all of the problems,” continued Sabato who ultimately was denied entry to the site by Israeli police after dozens were allowed entry.
As Sabato talked Israeli police arrested four inside of the Haram al-Sharif and entered al-Aqsa mosque. Police spokesperson Luba Samr said forces did not exceed “several meters,” reported Euronews. But an attendant of the mosque said it was the first time since 1967 that Israeli forces had entered deep into the mosque reaching the pulpit. “Almost 300 soldiers stormed Masjid-al Aqsa [al-Aqsa mosque],” caretaker Azzam al-Khatib said to the Turkish outlet World Bulletin, adding “This was a very dangerous step. This hasn’t been done before. It is completely unaccetable. Israel will deal with the consequences,” [sic] he continued.
Thanks Allison. I followed you on twitter today– it’s perfectly terrible.
I am reminded that Glick and his compatriots wanted a violent act to herald the change that they want so fervently.
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/who-shot-yehuda-glick
Remind me again, how did the last Intifada start?
This is pre- planned, designed and executed by Israel and Israeli extremists.
All Jews, religious and secular alike, swear, ‘If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.’
Leaving us with the sound of one hand thwapping?
“I think it’s a place of peace and a place of prayer and it should be open to all of the people all of the time,” said Avi Noam Sabato, 38, a food engineer from the West Bank settlement of Negahot in the South Hebron hills.“
The train stop in question is one that I often have used because it is right near my parents’ apartment. My understanding of the 1948 borders of israel are that Highway One is the dividing line between east and west jerusalem and thus the train stop would either be on the border itself or probably just within the border of 1948 jerusalem. the inference by allison is that it is in east jerusalem. emphasizing its proximity to the old city and calling it part of the sheikh jarrah neighborhood which in fact is just across the street, but in fact, across the street and not at the train stop. Could you please clarify if this is in east or west jerusalem and make that clear to the readers.
Iron Fist? Just like the one he hammered Gaza with, and killed over 2000 Palestinians?
We know all about that iron fist. It is a fist that steals, occupies, blockades, closes Mosques, provokes, and when there is some sort of retaliation, it turns into a brutal one. Last time over 2000 were killed, thousands more injured, and many were children, when that fist became blood thirsty and wanted to avenge the death of 3 kids. What excuses this time, fist?
Iron Fist. Iron Dome. What’s next; an Iron Lady?