Muslims snub calls to rally at Temple Mount
Despite calls by Islamic leaders urging followers to pack east Jerusalem holy site in protest of reinforcement of collapsing bridge they say may damage mosques, number of visitors remains unchanged, no public disturbances reported; 'we hope there won't be another flare-up,' Arab resident says
The calls issued by Islamic Movement leaders to their followers to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque in droves on Monday remained largely unanswered and life in Jerusalem's Old City went on as usual this afternoon.
The construction works on the Mugrabi Gate, the only entry point for Jews, continued partially.
Leaders from the northern and southern factions of the Islamic Movement called on Muslims to come to the site on Monday following work being done to reinforce a bridge on the Mugrabi hill which collapsed three winters ago.
The leaders say that the reinforcement 'may collapse the mosques on the Temple Mount.'
"I don't think there will be any problems, despite what Raed Salah said," Bassam Tutnashy, a resident of Jerusalem's Old City for 65 years now, told Ynet on Monday.
The Temple Mount on Monday, riot-less (Photo: Yoav Galai)
Like Tutnashy most of the Arab merchants in the Old City say they doubt the work being done at the Mugrabi Gate will cause much of an uproar. "We want peace and hope that there won't be another flare-up which will hurt our businesses," one resident said.
A spokesman for the Waqf, the Muslim clerical body which oversees matters pertaining to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also said he believed the Mugrabi construction is unlikely to cause problems, though he refused to be quoted by name.
Jews at Western Wall unaware of commotion
Most of the Jewish worshippers who came to the Western Wall on Monday were unaware of the calls by the Islamic Movement.
"There's no need for it (the construction)," said Yair Zeger, a resident of Eilat attending a relative's Bar Mitzvah. "There's no need to do anything that might reignite the Middle East and the Temple Mount."
Yossi Severdlov, who was also at the Western Wall for a Bar Mitzvah, said however: "We're not afraid of anyone's statements. This is our home, this is where we were born and we must do everything without fearing anyone."
It is important to note that security forces in the field told Ynet that the calm was maintained primarily thanks to the fact that construction of the bridge to the Mugrabi Gate has been suspended for now. However, archeological excavations meant to build new foundations for the Mugrabi hill continue on schedule.
The Israel Antiquities Authority denied that work has been suspended and said that Monday's works continued uninterrupted.
The Mugrabi Gate, the only entrance to the Temple Mount under Israeli control without Waqf supervision, is used by Jews as a crossing to reach the mount.
It is also where police prepare to break into the Mount on Friday's incase stones are thrown towards the Wall.
Roi Mendel and Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
