WAQF CONCERNED, FRUSTRATED BY INCREASING ISRAELI

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001907

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: WAQF CONCERNED, FRUSTRATED BY INCREASING ISRAELI
VISITS TO THE HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT

REF: JERUSALEM 01850

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Palestinian media reported hundreds of
Israelis visited the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in
Jerusalem's Old City in numerous visits during mid-October,
accompanied by police. Waqf officials confirmed the visits,
adding that the Israelis did not attempt to enter or damage
buildings at the site. They said, however, that they
perceive the increasing number of Israeli visitors at the
site as a threat to Waqf control of the area, and warned of
the possibility of violence if they damage Muslim places of
worship or harass Muslim worshippers. End Summary.

HUNDREDS OF ISRAELIS VISIT THE HARAM
AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT FOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS
--------------


2. (C) Palestinian sources reported that hundreds of
Israelis, accompanied by armed Israeli police, repeatedly
toured the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in mid-October. Waqf
security guard Ahmad Abu Hadid told POLOFF that at least 191
Israelis visited on October 15 and over 200 visited on
October 16. Unspecified numbers had visited the week before,
he said. Abu Hadid said the Israelis toured the grounds in
small groups and performed Jewish prayers, in spite of a ban
on non-Muslim worship at the site. He said the Israelis did
not attempt to enter or damage buildings.

WAQF SEES INCREASING VISITS AS "PROVOCATIVE"
--------------


3. (C) Waqf Director of Archeology and Tourism Dr. Yusuf
al-Natshah told POLOFF October 17 that the Waqf is alarmed by
the increasing frequency and blatancy of these visits. He
said they have gone from "infrequent exceptions" to "routine
visits," and the number of police escorts has increased. He
said the visitors' rhetoric has become increasingly
aggressive, and the Waqf believes they are coordinating their
visits in an attempt to set a precedent for Jewish worship at
the site. Al-Natshah described the visits as "provocative"
and said they "annoy and worry" the Waqf administration, the
PA, and the Jordanian government. He said that visits in the
past two weeks coincide with Jewish holidays, but he has also
observed a general "escalation" of visits over the past year.


4. (C) Director of the Waqf Shaykh Azzam al-Khatib publicly
warned that the increasing presence of Jewish worshippers in
an area he described as belonging to Muslims could provoke a
"reaction." He added that any damage inflicted to Muslim
holy places would bring "serious repercussions" and appealed
to the Islamic world to prevent threats to the Aqsa Mosque.


5. (C) COMMENT: Palestinians see these visits to the Haram
al-Sharif/Temple Mount as part of a broader effort by
Israelis to increase control over traditionally Arab areas
(ref). However, holy sites are particularly sensitive, and
Israeli actions at the Haram/Mount have caused outbursts of
violence in the past, such as then-MK Ariel Sharon's visit to
the site in 2000, which sparked the second intifada. End
comment.

WALLES