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Israel U-turns on al-Aqsa mosque security after Palestinian protests Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers clash outside al-Aqsa mosque
(about 7 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. Palestinian worshippers and Israeli security forces clashed inside the Jerusalem compound that houses the al-Aqsa mosque on Thursday night, as thousands of Muslims rushed to pray at the site for the first time in nearly two weeks following Israel’s removal of controversial security devices.
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. Scenes of jubilation inside one of the city’s most revered siteshad greeted the early morning removal of all additional security measures imposed on the site by Israeli security forces, following days of Palestinian street protests over the devices.
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. But the celebrations turned to scenes of chaos in the evening as Israeli police threw stun grenades in a narrow lane outside one of the mosque’s main entrances. Israeli police said they responded after stones were thrown at officers at the gates to the site.
“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 Palestinian Red Crescent said 100 Palestinians were hurt, including some by rubber bullets and beatings. It said several people suffered broken bones.
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. Palestinians had been boycotting entry to the site while the additional security measures introduced after three Israeli Arabs killed two Israeli police officers at an entrance to the compound on 14 July remained in place.
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. In a surprise reversal, the extra security including barriers and infrastructure for new cameras were removed by workers in the early hours of Thursday following the dismantling of metal detectors earlier this week, amid fears of unrest during what were expected to be large protests around Friday prayers.
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. Thursday was the first day in almost a fortnight in which Muslim officials had ruled it was permissible to enter the compound to pray.
“After extensive discussion and after achieving this victory in this round we call on our people in Jerusalem and inside (Israel) and anyone who can access the al-Aqsa Mosque to enter ... en masse,” the Islamic leaders said in a statement.
However, as thousands of joyful worshippers packed the area outside of the Lions Gate entrance to the mosque compound for afternoon prayers, it became clear that one of the key entrances – the Huta gate – was still being blocked by Israeli border police, who only allowed worshippers to enter at the last moment.
Tensions were heightened further still as police opened and closed the gate several times before dispersing the crowd with stun grenades.
The confrontations continued inside the mosque compound itself where police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as Palestinians threw stones inside the site that is holy to Muslims and Jews.
The 15-hectare (37-acre) compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has long been a lightning rod for the rival religious and national narratives of the two sides.
There have been signs that the prayer protest movement – which drew thousands each night to largely non-violent gatherings – had 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.”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. Ahead of the clashes there had been a festival spirit in the streets around the mosque with worshippers handing out sweets to passersby to celebrate. Among those who had gathered was a family of three women, Safa, Rima and Arin Shamsiya.
“We feel so happy,” said Safa. “It has been the most stressful two weeks ever. But the sense of community among the Palestinians of Jerusalem has been incredible in standing up for al-Aqsa.”
Firas Abasi said he felt like crying over the “victory”. “For 12 days no one has slept, no one has done anything except the al-Aqsa mosque,” he said.
Mohammed Abu Sneina, a cook who works in Tel Aviv, told the Guardian he had told his manager he could not come to work while he was protesting over the Israeli-imposed security measures at al-Aqsa.
“I need to be here,” he said. “I’ve been coming each days since early in the morning.”
After parts of the crowd were sent scattering by stun grenades the mood changed sharply. “It’s the Israelis who are doing this,” screamed a woman who declined to give her name. “They said that we could come here to pray today and then they do this.”
Jordan is the Muslim custodian of the shrine Islam’s third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe the site marks the spot where the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Jews also revere the hilltop compound as the Temple Mount, site of the two Jewish biblical temples. It is the holiest site in Judaism, and the nearby Western Wall, a remnant of one of the temples, is the holiest place where Jews can pray.
King Abdullah of Jordan urged Israel to “respect the historical and legal situation in the holy shrine to prevent the recurrence of these crises.”
Israeli far-right political leaders, on whom the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is dependent to keep his coalition in power, criticised the removal of the security devices.
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 Bibiton 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. In a populist move, apparently designed to try and repair his credentials with his right wing base, Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Palestinian who killed three Israelis last week should be executed.
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 death penalty for terrorists is something that the time has come to do,” the prime minister told the family of the dead Israelis.
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. Though Israeli law permits the death penalty, the Israeli government has only put one person to death: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, in 1962.
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