Jerusalem mayor fears for city over dig
Security forces to continue boosted presence in capital Sunday as excavation works are resumed at Mugrabi Gate. Islamic leaders plan protests while Mayor Lupolianski invites Waqf officials for talks
Security forces will again be on high alert on Sunday around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as excavation works resume at the Mugrabi Gate.
Meanwhile, Islamic Movement leader Sheik Raad Salah announced his plans to build a protest tent in Jerusalem at some distance from the Temple Mount in accordance with the restraining order issued against him by the court.
A spokesman for the Islamic Movement, Zahi Nujidat, told Ynet: "We do not intend to relinquish our right to raise our voices in pain over what Israel is doing at the Mugrabi Gate. We will not give up; we will be there to protest.
"We call on the Israeli government, if there are wise men there, to stop offending Muslim's feelings. The government of Israel will be solely responsible for any acts of violence anywhere in the county."
Lupolianski extends hand to Husseini
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski also addressed the matter, saying that he was fearful for the city and hopeful that "the situation will not deteriorate any further."
Lupolianski, who participated in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations held in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, added that the works were not meant to allow entrance to the Temple Mount and that he objects to any such entry.
Meanwhile, Lupolianski also invited Adnan Husseini, head of the Muslim Waqf, for a meeting following the tensions. Lupolianski said that the coexistence in Jerusalem can only be maintained through dialogue.
The Jerusalem municipality noted that while the Israeli government is the one responsible for the dig, Husseini prefers to handle his affairs with the municipality due to political reasons stemming from the waqf's refusal to recognize Israeli sovereignty. Husseini has yet to respond to the invitation.
Tumultuous weekend
A week of tensions reached its peak Friday afternoon, when police forced their way into the Temple Mount compound, firing stun grenades at rioters who hurled stones, Molotov cocktails and metal shards at policemen shortly after Friday prayers ended.
On Saturday the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee called for the international community’s immediate intervention on the matter.
“We do not accept the Israeli government’s excuses on what is taking place. Israel has no political or legal right to take any action in occupied east Jerusalem,” committee members said in a statement following an emergency meeting in Nazareth attended by all Arab Knesset members and other community leaders.
During the day, Jerusalem police arrested 17 people suspected of rioting and assaulting police officers. In
one incident Palestinian youths threw rocks at a tourist bus on the Mount of Olives. No injuries were reported but damage was caused to the bus.
On Sunday police will limit the age of Muslim men allowed into the Temple Mount from age 45 and up. Women will not be subjected to age limitations.
