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Israeli security cabinet set to discuss compromise, as Palestinian Authority cuts off all ties

The crisis in the Holy Land reached a critical mass over the weekend, as tensions over the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque failed to dissipate, but, rather, exploded into scenes of carnage.

Three Israelis in the West Bank community of Halamish, who had gathered to celebrate the birth of a grandson, were brutally stabbed to death while eating their Sabbath dinner by a Palestinian teen, Omar al-Abed, who wrote on Facebook just hours before the attack that he was answering the call of al-Aqsa.

The slaughter came after five Palestinians were reportedly killed in clashes with Israeli security forces that have extended for ten days, with no signs of abating. The ongoing point of contention is the installation of metal detectors at various entrances to Jerusalems Temple Mountknown to Muslims as Haram Al-Sharifin the wake of the killing of two Israeli police officers on July 14 by Israeli-Arab gunmen who smuggled weapons into the compound.

Muslim leaders say installing magnetometers violates the longstanding status quo governing inter-religious relations at the site, agreed to when Israel voluntarily ceded administrative authority over Judaisms holiest place in the immediate aftermath of the 1967 war (in which its army conquered east Jerusalem). Israel does, however, maintain security control over the site, which accounts for the implementation of what the government describes as necessary enhanced security measures.

Amid the violence, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced he was freezing contact with Israel on all levels until [it] commits to canceling all the [procedures] against our Palestinian people in general and Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque in particular. This includes the suspension of security cooperation between the PA and the Israeli armythe first time Abbas has taken this step during his decade-long tenurelong deemed essential in maintaining order in the West Bank. For its part, the Islamic Waqf (Muslim Trust which administers the holy site) was instrumental in organizing protests against the metal detectors, and said it was likewise unwilling to discuss any compromise until the metal detectors are removed.

Speaking to The Media Line, Lt.-Col. (res.) Alon Eviatar, who previously led an Israeli army (IDF) intelligence unit focused on Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank, explained that the immediate ramifications of the PAs decision to cut ties with Israel may not be severe. Abbas knows he cannot freeze everything. There is still an understanding that the Palestinian security apparatus will work with Israel, but in a grey area, and nobody will talk about it.

Even in the middle of the Second Intifada [the Palestinian uprising from 2000-2005], Eviatar emphasized, the two sides continued to coordinate with each other. It is never an all-or-nothing. Israels ability to handle reduced security coordination was seemingly confirmed by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Sunday, when he told local media that, Weve managed for many years without [full] security cooperation, and well manage now as well.

Moreover, many analysts attribute Abbas move exclusively to political considerations, pointing out that maintaining, at the very least, limited security ties with Israel is in the PAs best interest. The main reason Abbas declared the move is the political situation he is facing, contended Eviatar, who is also a former high-ranking official with COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees the IDFs activities in the West Bank. Abbas is not popular at home and over the past week his status deteriorated because the Muslimmovements, including Hamas, the Islamic Movement [in Israel], the Waqf, etc are at the forefront of the protests, and more broadly what the Palestinians call the resistance against Israel.

These other bodies reject the security cooperationit is viewed as totally unacceptableand there have long been calls for Abbas to end the ties, Eviatar continued. Nothing is more important than Al-Aqsa, it is the first priority. You cannot imagine the power of the hate against Israel for what is going on, and the players in the Palestinian arena view Abbas as cooperating with the Israeli government during a time when you can feel the tension. He felt boxed in.

The onus thus seemingly falls on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the Halamish killings, while describing the perpetrator as a beast incited by unfathomable hatred. The premier vowed to do the utmost to maintain security and take all necessary measures [to do so]. To this end, Netanyahus security cabinet was set to convene on Sunday to discuss alternatives to the metal detectors, including the option of using full body scanners, not unlike those used at airports.

As a first-step towards a possible compromise, overnightIsraeli police modified the entrance to the Lions Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, the main access point for Muslim worshipers to the Temple Mount compound. Fenced-off sleeves were erected through which security forces will escort visitors, with newly-installedcameras able to identify suspects carrying weapons. Those behaving suspiciously may also be checked by police using hand-held metal detectors.

Maj.-Gen. Yoav Poly Mordechai, who heads COGAT, confirmed to BBC Arabic that, We are examining options and additional alternatives that will ensure safety and prevent a terror attack from happening again.

We are ready for another solution if the security will return, he continued, we do not want to change the status quo, but I want to say clearlywe want to prevent another attack at this holy site. Why are the Arab leaders not saying this? Is it permitted for Muslims to bring weapons to the third-holiest site for Muslims, and to open fire?

Critics of the government, however, have been asking another question: Is it better for the government to be right or to be smart? arguing that while the placement of the metal detectors may have been justifiable on security grounds, it was nevertheless not advisable given the plausibility doing so could ignite an upheaval; a reality which has, in fact, materialized.

Dr. Yossi Beilin, an architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords who served as a member in the Israeli parliament for twenty years, believes, in this case, that the government acted appropriately, perhaps, but stupidly too, because it is such a sensitive situation and any move can create an excuse for riots and demonstrations in the Muslim world.

As regards the Arab-Islamic world, Dr. Beilin, who held ministerial positions in the governments of Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak, explains that Muslims see the situation very differently. They really believe that Israel is doing whatever is necessary to change the status quo. And, regrettably, there are members of the government, including ministers, who are [reinforcing this perception] by saying that Jews should pray atop the Temple Mount.

Echoing the fears of many Israelis and Palestinians, Dr. Beilin concluded, If we are stupid [the violence] will continue and there will be another Intifada and people will be killed on both sides.

If we are wise, however, we will put an end to it today.

Go here to see the original:
Temple Mount Crisis: Violence Risks Spiraling Out Of Control - The Media Line