Temple Mount remains peaceful

Tense calm prevails as Tisha B'av is commemorated in Jerusalem
By Doron Sheffer

Muslim prayers at the Temple Mount have passed off without incident, as clam prevailed over the area despite a number of verbal encounters between members of the Temple Mount Faithful group and Palestinians.

Near the Old City, however, a few hundred Muslims demonstrated near Damascus Gate against the ban on worshippers under the age 45 from entering the site, and threw rocks at police. There were no reported injuries, and police did not respond.

The Temple Mount Faithful group, headed by Gershon Solomon arrived at the West Wall Sunday morning in order protest the disengagement plan, and to mark Tisha B’Av, the day of mourning to commemorate the destruction of the HolyTemple in the year 70 c.e.

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Second Temple was destroyed on Tisha B'Av for one reason only, according to traditional sources - 'sinat hinam,' or baseless hatred. Jews at the time (70 CE) simply hated one another for no reason, and had absolutely no compassion for each other

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Members of the group wore mourning sacks with slogans written in red, including “Amaleik,” “only criminals expel Jews,” and “Holocaust.”

A model of the Temple was brought to the Wall, and a verbal confrontation developed with a group of ultra-Orthodox men at the scene.

In preparation for the Tisha B’av prayers, Police have maintained a large presence in the area since Saturday, with security personnel guarding every alleyway and corner in the Western Wall and Old City areas. Police have also spread out across the Temple Mount and east Jerusalem in an attempt to prevent attempts by any side to disturb the peace.

Western Wall: Tisha B'av prayers (Photo: Haim Tzah)

The police have also set up a command and control room at a parking lot in Har Tzion, from which officers are monitoring reports by security forces in the area, a police helicopter, a zeppelin, and closed circuit television.

Following warnings of plans by thousands of Muslims to arrive at the Temple Mount and “defend it by force,” Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco decided to allow Muslim worshippers over the age of 45 to enter the site, a restriction which will be in force until the evening.

The fasting period for Tisha B’Av, which will end this evening, will be followed by a call by Yesha Council leaders to arrive at the prime minister’s office in order to demand a national referendum, or early elections. From there, the protesters will proceed to the Kissufim checkpoint in an attempt to infiltrate Gush Katif.

Police raised alert levels across the country Sunday, and all holidays have been cancelled.