Palestinians riot in East Jerusalem as rightists march
Scores of rightwing activists marched in the capital amid heightened tensions between Jews and Arabs, which have led to clashes in East Jerusalem and the flashpoint Temple Mount; day after terror attack.
Scores of young masked Palestinians threw stones and fired fireworks at Border Patrol officers in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, as rightists took to Jerusalem's street to protest the deteriorated security situation in the Capital.
Dozens of right-wing activists gathered near the Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem - where Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick was shot last week - under the banner: "Marching in our Jerusalem". The activists held a rally protesting the security situation in the capital, and began to march to the entrance of the Temple Mount, but were prevented by police from reaching the flashpoint shrine.
The mainly young zealots had gathered near the Old City for what they called a march "to the gates of the Temple Mount". The shrine is Islam's third holiest site and is also revered by Jews because it once housed both the First and Second Temple.
Jews are allowed to enter the compound itself, but are forbidden from praying there for fear of triggering tensions with Muslim worshippers.
The protesters, chanting "the mosque will burn and the temple rebuilt," intended to hold a mass prayer near the Temple Mount for the speedy recovery of Glick, who was gravely wounded in the assassination attempt and is still in serious but stable condition.
Omri Ganor of the Way of Life Organization, one of the protest's organizers, said: "We are holding the event because of the collapse of the security situation here in Jerusalem."
Ganor placed the onus of tensions on the city's Palestinian population, saying that the "Arab elements and everyone trying to harm Jews are attempting to scare people so that Jews will be afraid to walk around in Jerusalem. We are making a statement that we will march anywhere and not be afraid. We are marching with our faces towards our sacred place - the Temple Mount, where we will build a third temple, by the grace of God."
Meanwhile, hundreds of young Palestinians, residents of the Shuafat refugee camp continued to participate in rioting on Thursday, throwing rocks and fireworks at border forces at border guards and Israeli police near Shuafat checkpoint. Border Police have responded with shock grenades and tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowd.
Local residents blocked the road leading to the camp with garbage and stones, and burned tires. They announced that they would continue rioting all through the night and would not allow security forces to enter the village.
Among the rioters were children between the ages of 8 and 14, who told Ynet that they were protesting to protect the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque and honor the Hamas terrorist who killed a Druze Border Patrol officer in a terror attack Wednesday.
"The police don't scare us, we will keep throwing stones at police until they open al-Aqsa Mosque to all worshipers of all ages," a Palestinian boy told Ynet, "Yesterday our martyr died, and we all appreciate what he did. We hope that Israel's government will learn its lesson, otherwise it will pay a heavy price."
Another masked rioter told Ynet: "The situation will not quiet down. Our struggle will continue to grow more and more. On the day that they leave al-Aqsa Mosque, we will stop throwing stones and they'll continue on their way.
"So from our perspective, the only solution is a third intifada. This is the time for the Israeli government to pause and consider before we continue with further steps."
Another masked man said that "If Netanyahu and his government think that they can deter us, they are seriously mistaken. We are citizens with rights, and there is no way we will give up easily.
"They close al-Aqsa Mosque and we'll keep fighting. We'll stay strong, even willing to stand against all the police weapons. This is a state that's making itself a laughingstock. This government failed in Operation Protective Edge and our preparedness is no less than that of Hamas. We are ready for the Israeli government to test us, and they'll get a surprise. I can say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is shooting himself in the foot."
Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah Thursday afternoon in wake of recent events on the Temple Mount and reiterated Israel's "preserve the status quo" of the al-Aqsa compound and Jordan's role in managing the holy site.
Israel says it wants stability in Jordan and is sensitive to its position in regards to the flashpoint site. Prime Minister Netanyahu's Office said that "both leaders called for an immediate end to all acts of violence and incitement."
Omri Efraim and Moran Azulay contributed to this report
