RENEWED HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT CLASHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001739 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2019 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: RENEWED HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT CLASHES PRECEDE YOM KIPPUR Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) At approximately 7:30 a.m. on September 27, clashes erupted amongst Jewish worshippers, Palestinian protestors, and Israeli National Police (INP) on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. According to former PA Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Hatem Abdel Qader, the incident was sparked by the attempt of 130-150 Jewish worshippers to enter the Temple Mount platform in order to carry out religious observances ahead of the start of Yom Kippur on sundown, September 27. According to al-Aqsa Foundation Deputy Kamal al Khatib, the worshippers were aligned with the hard-line Temple Mount Faithful group, which has been involved in previous incidents at the site. ¶2. (C) The Temple Mount Faithful representatives were confronted at the gate by approximately 150 Palestinian protestors already massed on the platform; according to Abdel Qader, the protestors, who were affiliated with Hizb al-Tahrir and the al-Aqsa Foundation, had gathered on the mount at approximately 4 a.m. in response to a rumor of the imminent arrival of hard-line Jewish groups and to calls in Palestinian media to gather at the site to protect it. When Palestinian protestors began to throw threw stones, chairs, and other available objects at members of the Temple Mount Faithful as they attempted to enter the Mount platform, INP on-site intervened to separate the two crowds, using tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets. ¶3. (C) By 9:30 a.m., INP had sealed the gates to the mount, dispersed the crowd of Temple Mount Faithful, and arrested an estimated 12 Palestinian protestors. Approximately 9 INP and 16 Palestinians were injured. (Note: Palestinian contacts deny media and INP reports that a group of 15 French tourists were caught up in the melee, saying that no visitors were able to breach the walls of Palestinan protestors and INP in order to enter.) At about 11:00 a.m., INP re-opened the gates to visiting males over the age of 50, and women over the age of 45. Isolated reports of small-scale skirmishes between Palestinians and Israeli Border Police involving rock-throwing continued throughout the afternoon. ¶4. (C) Abu Mazen aide Rafiq al-Husseini issued a press statement later in the afternoon on behalf of the President condemning the incident, which he attributed to the actions of "settlers" and Israeli police; he also noted that he had visited the 16 Palestinians who suffered injuries in the incident in hospital. (Note: Multiple sources tell Post that most of the injuries resulted from rubber bullet impacts and inhalation of tear gas.) Abdel Qader reported that despite calls from Fatah for an immediate commercial strike in East Jerusalem, many if not most business remained open. Hamas has called, in public announcements, for protests the night of September 27 in Gaza. RUBINSTEIN