Jerusalem Arabs Riot, Kassams Fired, After Old City Excavations

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews ^ | 2/6/7 | Hillel Fendel

[SmithL]

Four Kassam rockets were fired into Israel and Arabs rioted in Jerusalem - in protest of Antiquities Authority works at the Western Wall Plaza entrance to the Temple Mount.

Restrictions were placed on Moslem worshipers allowed to the Temple Mount, and the police were out in force Tuesday morning at the excavation works site, in anticipation of a fierce Arab reaction to the work. Though less violent than expected, rock-throwers rioted in eastern and northern Jerusalem; 11 Arabs were arrested.

In addition, terrorist groups fired four Kassam rockets, in two waves, claiming to retaliate for the excavation work. In the first Kassam wave, around 1 PM, one rocket landed on the fence of a sensitive infrastructures installations outside Ashkelon, and one crashed into the western Negev. Three hours later, two more rockets smashed down near Sderot, including one that landed in a nearby community. No one was hurt.

The Antiquities Authority is carrying out a "salvage excavation," a preparatory operation before the construction of a new pedestrian pathway to the Temple Mount. The existing one, leading to the Mughrabim Gate, was rebuilt over the past two years after earthquake and weather damage, and cuts off much of the women's prayer area at the Western Wall.

Jerusalem arachaeologist Yuval Baruch said that the excavations are not at all near the Temple Mount, and that the Arabs have no reason to protest. Jerusalem District Police Chief Ilan Franko agreed, adding that the works were coordinated in advance with the Moslem Waqf that oversees the Temple Mount.

Arab leaders were unfazed, however, and continued to stoke the fires of conflict. Hamas Authority leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Moslems all over Israel, including in the PA-controlled areas, to "prevent" the continuation of the works, and Fatah figures made similar calls. Arab MKs Tzartzour and Zechalke showed up in the Old City and demanded to see the excavation plans, while MK Taleb A-Sana warned of the outbreak of "a third intifada." Other Arab leaders warned Israel of the dangers of "playing with fire."

Left-wing Knesset Members were quick to condemn the Israeli initiative. Colette Avital (Labor) said the work is unnecessary, and Meretz Party chairman Yossi Beilin said the project could cause a disaster.

Some feel that the Arab rage was actually caused by other archaeological finds in the area, which disprove the Arab theory developed over the past ten years claiming that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were never historically Jewish.

Doron Spielman, Director of Development for the City of David foundation, says that anti-Zionists and Arabs truly have something to complain about. Speaking today on IsraelNationalRadio about a recent "phenomenal" discovery that left show hosts Yishai and Malkah Fleisher "speechless," Spielman informed listeners of the find of a 150-foot-wide staircase and an accompanying roadway leading directly up to the Temple from the Siloam Pool. He explained that the many thousands of Jews who arrived in Jerusalem three times a year would have used that stairway on their way from ritually immersing in the Pool to reach the Temple.

[Abathar]

Gee, Muslims calling for violence when someone does something they don't like, I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I say...

[TheKidster]

They even riot over fixing a sidewalk and our govt. wants to take our money to buy them guns and ammo??!! That's like a tax funded program in southside Chicago to buy spiked collars for pitbulls in all of the dog fight rings.

[freedomson]

If I was the PM, I'd be tempted to blow up the Dome of the Crock

and the blame it on Kassam rockets!

Time to run a play outta their playbook.

[massgopguy]

Oh look an ancient Aramaic scroll. It says, "Watch out for a sand Jiin called Allah. He's really Satan" signed Abraham

[antiRepublicrat]

In addition, terrorist groups fired four Kassam rockets, in two waves, claiming to retaliate for the excavation work. In the first Kassam wave, around 1 PM, one rocket landed on the fence of a sensitive infrastructures installations outside Ashkelon, and one crashed into the western Negev.

When is Israel going to implement counter-battery fire? We have them, they track the incoming trajectory of the round, calculate the trajectory back to its originating point, and then order an artillery barrage against the target. The return rounds are fired long before the rocket even lands.

This might not help against the highly mobile Katyusha, but it will at least send a signal that anyone who fires does so at his own immediate risk.

And of course this means the Arabs will fire, leave and herd a bunch of kids to where they fired from. But Israel can make a policy of very publicly disclosing all data from counter-battery operations.

[DonaldC]

I have always thought that for every act against Israel, they should go in and level one square mile of Pali land. Sooner or later, the problem will be over.

[Centurion2000]

Arab leaders were unfazed, however, and continued to stoke the fires of conflict. Hamas Authority leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Moslems all over Israel, including in the PA-controlled areas, to "prevent" the continuation of the works

Too bad Arabs are too stupid to realize the only thing allowing their continued breathing is the mercy of civilization. We need to bring back a few Roman traditions, like extermination of implacable enemies.

[yankeedame]

Gee, Muslims calling for violence when someone does something they don't like, I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED I say...

I'll say! I mean who would have ever thought? They're usually such peaceful, passive people -- practically Quakers.

[Publius6961]

Jerusalem arachaeologist Yuval Baruch said that the excavations are not at all near the Temple Mount, and that the Arabs have no reason to protest. Jerusalem District Police Chief Ilan Franko agreed, adding that the works were coordinated in advance with the Moslem Waqf that oversees the Temple Mount.

Here is the heart of the problem in a nutshell.

Jerusalem, all of it, every square inch, is either sovereign Israeli territory, or it isn't.

Allowing the waqf even the appearance of control is the entire problem.

Eliminating the waqf from Jerusalem would be a good start, together with prohibited access to all muslims for a cooling off period. About 5 years after all mayhem, murder and riots end sounds like a good time frame...

[BMC1]

Their rioting because they are afraid artifacts found there prove that Jews have a right to the land.

The Arabs have been destroying artifacts for years to prevent that proof.

[TheKidster]

Allah is one demon among many and Mohammed is his pedophile

[Squidpup]

Just checked the wallcam http://www.aish.com/wallcam/
Pretty empty there compared to normal

[TheKidster]

Yep

[agere_contra]

Some feel that the Arab rage was actually caused by other archaeological finds in the area, which disprove the Arab theory developed over the past ten years claiming that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were never historically Jewish

They have no regard for truth. This is because to be a Muslim you must believe in "Allah logic" - this is the "idea" that any fact or assertion can be both true and not true at the same time - the version of truth you act on is the one that suits your Imam best.

[colorado tanker]

There is another piece to this. There is a rumor believed even by non-moonbat Muslims that the Jews are tunneling under the Mount to build a new Temple in secret.

[antiRepublicrat]

If I was the PM, I'd be tempted to blow up the Dome of the Crock

The problem is that the Israelis are too moral. You know of all of the imams ordering and blessing off on so many murderous rampages and destruction. But a while back there was a plot to blow up the Dome of the Rock. It was very well thought-out and most likely would have succeeded, but the plotters abandoned their idea because they couldn't get it blessed by a rabbi. I've only ever heard of one rabbi back in the 60s publicly say to blow it up, but even then it was more like "If during the war it should happen to blow up, then that is fortunate."

[dennisw]

Just about all of you would flunk Islam 101. There is too much killing going on between the Paleostinian mafia crime families, the Hamas clans and the Fatah clans. The solution is to gin up some anti Jew riots

You do this by spreading lies about Jews destroying the Muslim mosques on the Temple Mount. This has been done at least since the 1920s when the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem stirred up riots. he was the Hitler collaborator.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT

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[ScaniaBoy]

Just about all of you would flunk Islam 101.

Is that good or bad? :^)