Islamic Jihad, Hamas threaten Israel after Jews ascend Temple Mount

Islamic Jihad and Hamas threatened increased violence after thousands of Jewish worshipers ascended the Temple Mount Sunday late morning. Earlier in the day, Israel Police had closed the mount and short but violent protests erupted.

Four officers were injured and a handful of Muslim and Jewish worshipers in the event.

“Israel is trying to impose a new reality in the al-Aqsa mosque and there will be repercussions for it,” Islamic Jihad official Fuad a-Razm said.

“We are tracking Israel’s steps,” said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. “This is a violation of the rights of millions of Muslims.”

Police early morning announced that the Temple Mount would be closed to Jews, despite Sunday being the Jewish fast day of Tisha Be’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Police first blamed the prime minister, who denied he was involved.

The Jerusalem District Police Spokesperson’s Unit released a statement that said a special assessment was conducted by the Jerusalem District Commander, which led to the decision.

“The gate was supposed to open at 7:30 but the police is showing weakness and fear, and has not yet announced whether to open the gate to Jewish “visitors” for fear of rioting by ‘local’ Muslims,” tweeted Maariv’s Avishai Grinzaig. “In doing so, the police shows the world that terrorism pays off and it also shows who really controls the mount. (Clue to the puzzle: Not us).”

Police barred Jews from entering since this year the Jewish holiday coincides with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of Sacrifice.” They wanted to prevent friction. Some 80,000 Muslims gathered on the site by morning for their special day.

By mid-morning, police were forced stormed the Temple Mount, firing stun grenades in an attempt to disperse crowds of Muslim worshipers who were protesting against the gathering of Jews at the entrance to the mount.

One Muslim filmed the crowd “confronting the settlers’ attempt to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” as he posted on Twitter, showing a large, shouting crowd.

شاهد: مئات الشبان يتصدون لمحاولة المستوطنين اقتحام المسجد الأقصى، قبل قليل. pic.twitter.com/rstDbxG69P

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) August 11, 2019

A sign hung at the entrance to the Temple Mount that had a picture of Hamas terrorist and Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi and read, “No to the ‘Deal of the Century’ and “Our soul yearns for the Temple.”

Hamas banner on Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av.

No Jews allowed on our holiest site while terrorist sympathizers are welcome. pic.twitter.com/jCb43gAxe1

— Elder Of Ziyon ҉ (@elderofziyon) August 11, 2019

Announcers shortly before had called on worshipers through megaphones and loud speakers to remain on the site in order to deny Jewish entry. Eventually, Muslims physically confronted the Jews.

Hamas Spokesman Hazem Qasem congratulated the Muslim worshipers who participated in “fending off the settlers at the Temple Mount,” and called on every Palestinian who can “come to Jerusalem and defend the al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Once Police opened the Temple Mount, politicians on the Palestinian side began reacting.

“Israel bears full responsibility for storming Al Aqsa and fueling religious tensions in Jerusalem,” said PLO official Dr. Hanan Daoud Mikhael Ashrawi.

Ashrawi attacked Israeli politicians, claiming that, “To score points in election season, Israeli politicians are competing on who can exhibit higher levels of aggression and hostility against the Palestinian people during this important religious holiday.”

She threatened that events could “plunge the region in sectarian war.”

Jewish MK Ofer Cassif, a member of the Hadash-Ta’al list accused Jewish visitors of “not seeking holiness, but rather incitement.

“This incitement is not the result of a religious conflict, but a planned continuation of the rampage of occupation forces in East Jerusalem, which kidnap children, beat protesters, steal evidence and destroy homes.”

But Israeli politicians felt otherwise. Several right-wing politicians protested Sunday morning when the mount was closed.

Likud MK and former mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat addressed the police commander of the Jerusalem district in a statement he wrote on Twitter, saying that the consideration for Muslim worshippers was “appropriate,” but said that it should not come at the expense of “the determination of the police and protecting the accepted status quo” at the site.

“We must continue to allow Jews to go up the Temple Mount. Exercize your authority and do not capitulate to violence,” said Barkat.

Senior United Right MK and Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich said it was “shameful and disgraceful” that the Temple Mount was closed to Jews on Tisha Be’av.

“The decision to capitulate to Arab terrorism and violence at the holiest place for the Jewish people is the root of the loss off deterrence in other areas,” said Smotrich.

Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, however, welcomed the decision to close the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors, in line with the Chief Rabbinate’s long-standing position against Jews visiting the holy site.

Most ultra-Orthodox rabbis, such as Yosef, and many religious-Zionist rabbis, prohibit Jews from going to the Temple Mount out of concern that they will stray into areas which Jewish law says are off-limits without the requisite purification ceremonies that are unavailable today.

“The ascent of Jews to the Temple Mount is forbidden according to Jewish law at the essence of the prohibition, and it is appropriate that the ascent of Jews be prohibited all year-round,” said Yosef.