Israeli police tightened security around Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday as Muslims protested its installation of metal detectors at a flashpoint shrine holy to both Jews and Muslims.
Police set up a series of checkpoints, turning away worshippers heading to Jerusalem from Israel and the West Bank. About 3,000 officers were deployed around the Old City, barring entry to Muslim men under age 50, except for area residents.
The dispute over the metal detectors has led to rising tensions between Israel and the Muslim world, with even friendly Arab nations, such as Jordan, appealing to Israel to remove the devices. Jordan is the custodian of the Muslim-administered walled compound.
With the heavy security measures Friday, Israel effectively doubled down on its earlier decision. The detectors were installed earlier this week, after a deadly attack at the shrine left two Israeli policemen dead.
Muslim religious leaders in the Palestinian territories allege the metal detectors are part of an Israeli attempt to expand its control over the Muslim-administered site, a claim Israel denies. The compound houses the al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques.
In protest, hundreds of worshippers gathered at various entrances to the compound — known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount — before Friday prayers, but refused to enter, preferring to pray outside.
“We reject Israeli restrictions at the Aqsa Mosque,” said Jerusalem’s senior Muslim cleric, Grand Mufti Mohammad Hussein.
Israel heightened security following killing of 2 Israeli police officers a week ago. 3 Pal. shooters killed. #cbc pic.twitter.com/mfcJxG7mab
Muslim leaders and Palestinian political factions had urged the faithful to gather for a “day of rage” on Friday against the new security policies.
But by early afternoon, with police mobilizing extra units and placing barriers to carry out checks at entrances to the Old City, there had been little violence.
At one location near the Old City, stone throwers did try to break through a police line, and police used stun grenades.
The Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service said at least 30 people had been hurt, two seriously and some suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Hardly any Palestinians entered the al-Aqsa compound – refusing to pass through Israeli metal detectors. #cbc pic.twitter.com/pEisNrgpOs
Dispute unites Palestinians
Jerusalem resident Hashem Abu Diab, 60, led the crowd in chants of “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is Great.”
Abu Diab said the dispute has united Jerusalem’s Palestinians who see the 15-hectare compound as their last sanctuary from Israel’s 50-year occupation of the eastern part of the city.
‘If al-Aqsa goes, we lose everything.’
— Resident Hashem Abu Diab
“The al-Aqsa Mosque is the last place we have in this country,” he said. “If al-Aqsa goes, we lose everything. We don’t leave until they remove the metal detectors.”
At one point, an Israeli police officer told the crowd in Arabic that, ahead of the noon prayers, worshippers would be able to enter without going through metal detectors. After consultations with religious leaders, the crowd rejected the offer, insisting that the devices have to be removed altogether.
Israeli police said in a statement that the metal detectors will remain in place, but suggested police may at times choose to only conduct spot checks. “Israeli police can decide on the level of checks,” said police spokeswoman Luba Samri.
Typically, tens of thousands of Muslims from Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel converge on the shrine for Friday prayers.
A Palestinian man walks towards a metal detector at the al-Aqsa mosque compound. (Oded Balilty/Associated Press)
‘Extremely dangerous’
The decision to defer to police came amid reports of disagreement among Israel’s security services about the need for the metal detectors. The military and the Shin Bet security services, which deal directly with Palestinians and potential unrest, were reportedly opposed to the devices.
Israel has come under growing pressure this week to remove the metal detectors.
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, asked the United States to “intervene urgently” and compel Israel to remove metal detectors, said an adviser, Nabil Abu Rdeneh.
Abbas discussed the growing tensions in Jerusalem in a phone call with Trump’s top adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Abu Rdeneh said.
Abbas told Kushner that the situation is “extremely dangerous and may go out of control,” the Palestinian official said.
Muslim leaders have called on worshippers to pray in the streets near the shrine rather than walk through metal detectors. (Mahmoud Illea/Associated Press)
