2017 Temple Mount crisis

2017 Temple Mount crisis
Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Muslims praying at the entrance to the Temple Mount. They refused to go through the metal detectors.
LocationJerusalem
Cause2017 Temple Mount shooting
Outcome

The 2017 Temple Mount crisis[1][2][3] was a period of violent tensions related to the Temple Mount, which began on 14 July 2017, after a shooting incident in the complex in which Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli police officers. Following the attack, Israeli authorities installed metal detectors at the entrance to the Mount in a step that caused large Palestinian protests and was severely criticized by Palestinian leaders, the Arab League, and other Muslim leaders, on the basis that it constituted a change in the "status quo" of the Temple Mount entry restrictions.[4]

The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf called Muslims to pray outside the Temple Mount, and not enter the mosque complex until the metal detectors were removed.[5]

On 25 July the Israeli Cabinet voted to remove the metal detectors and replace them with other surveillance measures.[6] Nevertheless, Palestinian activists decided to continue protesting, claiming those cameras represent a greater degree of control than the metal detectors.[7] On 27 July, Israel removed the new security measures from the Mount, which led to the Waqf telling Muslims they could return to pray inside the compound.[8] 113 Palestinians were reportedly injured in clashes with police after thousands of Muslims returned to pray at Temple Mount.[9]

Within an 11-day period, eleven people had died due to the crisis.[10]

  1. ^ "Greenblatt to arrive in region over Temple Mount crisis". 24 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Israeli leaders can still contain Temple Mount crisis, but require political courage". The Times of Israel.
  3. ^ Maltz, Judy (24 July 2017). "Explained: What Sparked Temple Mount Crisis and Where Do We Go From Here" – via Haaretz.
  4. ^ "Arab League says Israel 'playing with fire' at holy site". 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via The Economic Times.
  5. ^ "Waqf urges Muslims to boycott Temple Mount over metal detectors". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  6. ^ Lewis, Ori (24 July 2017). "Israel to replace metal detectors in Jerusalem with less obtrusive surveillance". Reuters. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  7. ^ Tahhan, Zena. "Jerusalem cameras 'more dangerous than metal detectors'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  8. ^ Reed, John (27 July 2017). "Israel removes all security measures from al-Aqsa mosque". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  9. ^ Shaalan, Hassan (27 July 2017). "113 reportedly injured as thousands return to pray at Temple Mount". Ynetnews. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  10. ^ Booth, William (25 July 2017). "A young Palestinian vowed to die a martyr, then stabbed 3 members of an Israeli family to death". WashingtonPost. Retrieved 26 July 2017.