Jerusalem - Intelligence reports predicting riots Friday on Temple Mount

Ha'aretz ^ | July 24, 2003

[HAL9000]

The security establishment is expecting Arab riots on the Temple Mount Friday, based on intelligence estimates in the wake of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's decision to convene the Fatah leadership Thursday evening to discuss Israel's recent resumption of visits by Jews to the disputed holy site in Jerusalem's Old City.

As a result, security forces on Friday will restrict entry to the Temple Mount to Muslim worshippers over 40 years of age for afternoon prayers and will increase the number of police officers in the area. Jerusalem District Police command on Thursday held a special assessment of the situation ahead of Friday afternoon prayers.

Concerns have increased in recent days that Palestinian officials will be asked to inflame worshippers at the Mount and bring about riots during the prayers, in wake of the resumption of incitement on Palestinian media.

Attending the Fatah meeting, which was held in the Muqata - Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah - were representatives of the Muslim religious trust (Waqf) in Jerusalem.

During the meeting, Arafat called Israel's recent decision to allow Jews to visit the Temple Mount "an attempt by extremists, disguised as tourists and under police guard, to encroach upon the Temple Mount."

Arafat called on the Arab League and leaders of Arab states to intervene and "prevent a repetition of dangerous developments on the Mount that could harm the peace process."

Arafat convened the meeting as Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is in Washington for talks with senior U.S. officials, including President George W. Bush.

The Palestinians' anger comes after Israel decided to change its policy on the Temple Mount. About a week ago, Israel decided to allow Jews wearing skullcaps (kippot) to enter the Mount area, a few weeks after limited groups of tourists and Israeli citizens not wearing skullcaps to visit the site.

It was shortly after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - who at the time was head of the opposition in the Knesset - visited the Temple Mount in September 2000 that the current intifada erupted.

[dennisw]

Incitement of the ignorant Muslism masses goes way back. Hitler's friend The Grand Mufti (Amin Al-Husseini) was an expert at this and Arafat merely copies him