This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/israel-removes-further-security-measures-from-al-aqsa-compound
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israel U-turns on al-Aqsa mosque security after Palestinian protests | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel has yielded to days of growing Palestinian street protests by removing all additional security measures around the compound housing al-Aqsa mosque, following the removal of metal detectors earlier this week. | Israel has yielded to days of growing Palestinian street protests by removing all additional security measures around the compound housing al-Aqsa mosque, following the removal of metal detectors earlier this week. |
| The reversal marks a victory for a campaign of civil disobedience that saw Palestinians refuse en masse to enter the compound, one of the city’s most revered sites, choosing to pray instead in the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. | The reversal marks a victory for a campaign of civil disobedience that saw Palestinians refuse en masse to enter the compound, one of the city’s most revered sites, choosing to pray instead in the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. |
| The remaining additional security measures that had been installed by Israel in the last fortnight – including barriers and infrastructure for new cameras – were removed by workers in the early hours of Thursday amid mounting fears of unrest during what were expected to be large protests around Friday prayers. | The remaining additional security measures that had been installed by Israel in the last fortnight – including barriers and infrastructure for new cameras – were removed by workers in the early hours of Thursday amid mounting fears of unrest during what were expected to be large protests around Friday prayers. |
| “The police returned the security measures to how they were before the terrorist attack at the Haram al-Sharif, before 14 July,” a police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, said in a statement. | |
| The move sparked celebrations by young Palestinians, and local residents came out to hand out sweets in the streets. Muslim leaders in Jerusalem told worshippers to end their boycott of entering al-Aqsa and return to the mosque to pray. | The move sparked celebrations by young Palestinians, and local residents came out to hand out sweets in the streets. Muslim leaders in Jerusalem told worshippers to end their boycott of entering al-Aqsa and return to the mosque to pray. |
| On Wednesday night Israeli police took a far more conciliatory approach at the main Lions’ Gate entrance to the compound, where they had previously been quick to respond to any problems by clearing the streets with stun grenades. | |
| There have been signs that the prayer protest movement – which drew thousands each night to largely non-violent gatherings – has given an unusual sense of empowerment to Palestinians in East Jerusalem who have long lived without their own political institutions under Israeli occupation. | |
| Israeli security analysts had noted that the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, had thrown his weight behind the movement, suspending security coordination with Israel. | Israeli security analysts had noted that the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, had thrown his weight behind the movement, suspending security coordination with Israel. |
| The Islamist group Hamas also sought to endorse the street protests, and hailed the removal of the security measures. Izzat Risheq, a senior leader, tweeted that Palestinians had achieved a “historic victory … tomorrow they will celebrate the removal of the occupation itself.” | |
| Israeli far-right political leaders, on whom the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is dependent to keep his coalition in power, criticised the move. | |
| Naftali Bennett, the education minister and a member of the security cabinet, told Army Radio that Israel had been weakened by the decision. “I anticipate an increase in violence soon,” he said. “Every time that Israel strategically caves, we get an intifada. You sort of benefit in the short term, but you cause damage in the long run.” | Naftali Bennett, the education minister and a member of the security cabinet, told Army Radio that Israel had been weakened by the decision. “I anticipate an increase in violence soon,” he said. “Every time that Israel strategically caves, we get an intifada. You sort of benefit in the short term, but you cause damage in the long run.” |
| Netanyahu has faced a growing backlash from both his political opponents and even his traditional backers for his handling of the crisis. Perhaps most extraordinarily, his stance was denounced as “feeble and frightened” by Israel Hayom, a freesheet that usually backs him unquestioningly. | Netanyahu has faced a growing backlash from both his political opponents and even his traditional backers for his handling of the crisis. Perhaps most extraordinarily, his stance was denounced as “feeble and frightened” by Israel Hayom, a freesheet that usually backs him unquestioningly. |
| The paper, nicknamed the Bibitonm combining the Hebrew word for paper and Netanyahu’s nickname, condemned the prime minister’s “demonstration of helplessness”. | The paper, nicknamed the Bibitonm combining the Hebrew word for paper and Netanyahu’s nickname, condemned the prime minister’s “demonstration of helplessness”. |
| Israel installed the security measures earlier this month after Arab gunmen shot and killed two police officers from within the site. It said they were necessary to prevent more attacks; Palestinians claimed Israel was trying to expand its control over the site. | Israel installed the security measures earlier this month after Arab gunmen shot and killed two police officers from within the site. It said they were necessary to prevent more attacks; Palestinians claimed Israel was trying to expand its control over the site. |
| The issue sparked some of the worst street clashes in years and threatened to draw Israel into conflict with other Arab and Muslim nations. Under intense pressure, Israel removed the metal detectors and said it planned to install sophisticated security cameras instead. | The issue sparked some of the worst street clashes in years and threatened to draw Israel into conflict with other Arab and Muslim nations. Under intense pressure, Israel removed the metal detectors and said it planned to install sophisticated security cameras instead. |
| The standoff highlighted the deep distrust between Israel and the Palestinians when it comes to the shrine, the third holiest in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism. The 37-acre (15-hectare) compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has been a lightning rod for the rival religious and national narratives of the two sides and has triggered major confrontations in the past. | The standoff highlighted the deep distrust between Israel and the Palestinians when it comes to the shrine, the third holiest in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism. The 37-acre (15-hectare) compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has been a lightning rod for the rival religious and national narratives of the two sides and has triggered major confrontations in the past. |
| Need something explained?Let us know which of these questions we can answer for you. |