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Israel blocks Jersusalem holy site amid rising tensions after activist shot Israel blocks Jerusalem holy site amid rising tensions after activist shot
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces on Thursday shot and killed a Palestinian man suspected of gunning down Yehuda Glick, a prominent American-Israeli activist who has been pressing authorities to allow Jews to pray at the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s most holy sites and a lightening rod for sectarian clashes. JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces sealed off access to one of Islam’s most holy sites Thursday in a rare move that reflected soaring tensions after a suspected Palestinian gunman targeted a prominent American-Israeli activist and Israel responded with a deadly raid.
Glick was wounded late Wednesday in what appears to have been an assassination attempt. A gunmen on a motorcycle fired at Glick as he and fellow activists and Israeli politicians emerged from a conference at the Menachim Begin Heritage Center. Jerusalem police were on high alert as riot squads flooded into the Old City to block access to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Asqa mosque, the third most holy place in Islam.
The group were meeting to discuss recent efforts to push for greater Jewish access to the walled esplanade in Jerusalem’s Old City, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. The blanket security measures at the site — the first such in decades — brought strong denunciations from the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, who compared it to “a declaration of war.” In the past, disputes at the site have touched off major Palestinians protests and uprisings.
For the first time in decades, Israeli authorities took the highly unusual step of sealing the sanctuary on Thursday, denying Muslims access to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Asqa mosque, the third most holy place in Islam. The current tensions also could overshadow talks scheduled later in Washington between a high-level Israeli delegation and National Security Adviser Susan Rice. The meeting was called reports of derogatory comments made by Obama administration officials regarding Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was essentially called a coward.
“Only the director of the Al-Aqsa compound and security guards were allowed in. The Muezzin, who leads the call to prayer, was also denied entry,” the Palestinian Maan news agency reported. The events in Jerusalem began late Wednesday when a gunman on a motorcycle wounded activist Yehuda Glick, who has been pressing authorities to allow Jews to pray at the Temple Mount, which includes the Muslim holy sites.
Jews and Christians are allowed to visit the site as tourists. But, by mutual agreement between Israel and Jordan, they are banned from praying, singing and making religious displays. Both Israeli soldiers and representatives of the Muslim authority that oversees the site often follow Jewish activists around the sanctuary to make sure they do not pray. On Thursday, an Israeli counterterrorism unit killed the suspected gunmen following a shootout in a Jerusalem neighborhood, police said.
Glick was wounded as he emerged from a conference to discuss efforts to push for greater Jewish access to the walled esplanade in Jerusalem’s Old City, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Israeli authorities took the highly unusual step of denying access to all but the Muslim caretakers.
“The Muezzin, who leads the call to prayer, was also denied entry,” the Palestinian Maan news agency reported.
Jews and Christians are allowed to visit the site as tourists. But they are banned from praying, singing and making religious displays.
The first and second Jewish temples — historically the center of Jewish life — were located in the same spot. Roman destroyed the second temple in 70 A.D. Jews now pray at the Western Wall, the ramparts close to the site.The first and second Jewish temples — historically the center of Jewish life — were located in the same spot. Roman destroyed the second temple in 70 A.D. Jews now pray at the Western Wall, the ramparts close to the site.
For years, the site has been the scene of demonstrations and violent confrontations between Israeli security forces and rock-throwing Arab youth. The Palestinian man suspected by police of shooting Glick was found early Thursday in the Abu Tor neighborhood. An Israeli counterterrorism unit surrounded the building and when shots were aimed at the officers, they returned fire and killed the suspect, according to Micky Rosenfeld, spokesman for the Israeli police.
The Palestinian man suspected by police of shooting Glick was found early Thursday in the Abu Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem. An Israeli counterterrorism unit surrounded the building and when shots were aimed at the officers, they returned fire and killed the suspect, according to Micky Rosenfeld, spokesman for the Israeli police.
The Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency identified the suspect as Muatnaz Hijazi, 32, who worked in the restaurant at the Begin Center.The Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency identified the suspect as Muatnaz Hijazi, 32, who worked in the restaurant at the Begin Center.
“The attack was clearly planned ahead of time,” Rosenfeld said.“The attack was clearly planned ahead of time,” Rosenfeld said.
Israeli authorities said that Hijazi had served time in Israeli prison for “security offenses,” but did not offer details. The intelligence agency said that Hijazi was once a member of Islamic Jihad, branded a terror group by Israeli, but after being released from prison two years ago was not believe active in the organization.Israeli authorities said that Hijazi had served time in Israeli prison for “security offenses,” but did not offer details. The intelligence agency said that Hijazi was once a member of Islamic Jihad, branded a terror group by Israeli, but after being released from prison two years ago was not believe active in the organization.
Shimon Glick, father of Yehuda Glick, said in an interview that his 48-year-old son is in critical but stable condition in intensive care.Shimon Glick, father of Yehuda Glick, said in an interview that his 48-year-old son is in critical but stable condition in intensive care.
“We know this is going to be a long process to recovery,” said Glick, who is physician. “He has several wounds in the bowel and has had a piece of lung cut out. He is heavily sedated.”“We know this is going to be a long process to recovery,” said Glick, who is physician. “He has several wounds in the bowel and has had a piece of lung cut out. He is heavily sedated.”
The elder Glick defended his son against charges he is a provocateur.
“Yehuda has had many threats on his life and unfortunately nothing was done about it. The Palestinian news media have constantly attacked him and described him in the most vicious terms,” he said.
“Everyone who knows him knows that he is a quiet and law abiding citizen who has has never hurt anyone,” Glick said. “The police have not been active in protecting him or taking the death threats seriously.”
The father said he did not know if Glick was the target. “He stands out in the crowd because he is tall and he has red hair. I don’t know why they picked him but maybe because he is a very obvious, he stands out like a red flag in front of a bull,” he said.The father said he did not know if Glick was the target. “He stands out in the crowd because he is tall and he has red hair. I don’t know why they picked him but maybe because he is a very obvious, he stands out like a red flag in front of a bull,” he said.
Glick is a well-known activist and leader of HaLiba, a group dedicated to “reaching complete and comprehensive freedom and civil rights for Jews on the Temple Mount.”Glick is a well-known activist and leader of HaLiba, a group dedicated to “reaching complete and comprehensive freedom and civil rights for Jews on the Temple Mount.”
A number of right-wing Israeli politicians, including members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, have also pressed for the right of Jews to pray on the mount. A number of right-wing Israeli politicians, including members of Netanyahu’s coalition government, have also pressed for the right of Jews to pray on the mount.
Glick was formerly a director at the Temple Institute, which is dedicated to preparing for and building a third temple on the mount, with a return of animal sacrifice, as was the custom 2000 years ago.Glick was formerly a director at the Temple Institute, which is dedicated to preparing for and building a third temple on the mount, with a return of animal sacrifice, as was the custom 2000 years ago.
Glick has been banned by police from the Temple Mount in the past because of his advocacy, which is seen as highly provocative by Muslims and many Israelis, who say that Glick and his supporters are waving matches around a powder keg.Glick has been banned by police from the Temple Mount in the past because of his advocacy, which is seen as highly provocative by Muslims and many Israelis, who say that Glick and his supporters are waving matches around a powder keg.
While Glick and other activists say they are seeking equal rights to pray on the mount, many Muslims distrust their motives and say what the Israelis want is a change in the status quo agreements and hegemony at the site. They point to groups such as the Temple Institute as evidence that the Jews want to destroy the Muslim mosque and shines and rebuild their own temple.While Glick and other activists say they are seeking equal rights to pray on the mount, many Muslims distrust their motives and say what the Israelis want is a change in the status quo agreements and hegemony at the site. They point to groups such as the Temple Institute as evidence that the Jews want to destroy the Muslim mosque and shines and rebuild their own temple.
“This is not incitement,” said Rabbi Chaim Richman, a director of the Temple Institute, in an interview last year. “Our mission is to kindle the spark of desire for the time when Jews are a light unto the world, and Muslims will agree it is time to rebuild, and all nations of the world will come to the Jews and ask them to rebuild.”“This is not incitement,” said Rabbi Chaim Richman, a director of the Temple Institute, in an interview last year. “Our mission is to kindle the spark of desire for the time when Jews are a light unto the world, and Muslims will agree it is time to rebuild, and all nations of the world will come to the Jews and ask them to rebuild.”
On Thursday morning, Netanyahu held a briefing about the incident with Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and military and intelligence chiefs. On Thursday, Netanyahu held a briefing about the incident with Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and military and intelligence chiefs.
“I wish to send a message to Yehuda Glick, who is now fighting for his life, that he has speedy recovery from this,” Netanyahu said. “We are facing a wave of incitement from radical Islamists and also from the head of the Palestinian Authority Abu Mazen, who said that we need to prevent all Jews from going up to the Temple Mount. I still have heard nothing from the international community,” the prime minister. Abu Mazen is the nickname for Palestinian President Abbas.
“We are facing a wave of incitement from radical Islamists and also from the head of the Palestinian Authority Abu Mazen, who said that we need to prevent all Jews from going up to the Temple Mount. I still have heard nothing from the international community,” the prime minister. Abu Mazen is the nickname for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
On Thursday, speaking about the closure to the mount, Abbas said, “This dangerous Israeli escalation is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people and its sacred places and on the Arab and Islamic nation,” according to his spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina.