RENEWED UNREST ON HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001766 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2019 TAGS: PINS PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM KWBG IS KIRF SUBJECT: RENEWED UNREST ON HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT REF: JERUSALEM 1739 Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On October 4, Israeli police clashed briefly with Arab Israeli protesters attempting to enter the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount platform in order to "protect" the al-Aqsa mosque from hard-line Jewish groups whom protesters believed to be organizing a visit. Arab Islamic Movement in Israel (Northern Branch) Deputy Kamal al-Khatib and former PA Jerusalem Affairs Minister Hatem Abdel Qader were arrested, along with several others; both were released the evening of October 4. A simultaneous standoff between Israeli police and 150-200 Palestinian and Arab Israeli protesters who spent the night of October 3 on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount ended more peacefully, with protesters gradually dispersing on the afternoon of October 4. On October 5, thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered at the Western Wall for Birkat Hakohanim ("priestly blessing") ceremonies, and access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount was tightly restricted. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Following rumors that hard-line Jewish groups such as the Temple Mount Faithful intended to stage an October 4 rally on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, 150-200 Palestinian and Arab Israeli protesters entered the compound during evening prayer on October 3, with plans to stay the night and confront any Jewish groups attempting to worship on the site when public visiting hours resumed the following morning. According to local press reports and Waqf officials, the protesters declined requests by Israeli National Police (INP) and Waqf officials that they leave. The protesters remained massed at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount at dawn on October 4. When former PA Jerusalem Affairs Minister Hatem Abdel Qader arrived at approximately 4:30 a.m. for morning prayers, he was arrested on charges of incitement. (Note: following previous clashes at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, Qader was subject to an Israeli restraining order barring him from entering the area.) ¶3. (C) Separately, busloads of Israeli Arabs traveled from the northern Arab Israeli town of Um al-Fahem to Jerusalem at the urging of Arab Islamic Movement in Israel (Northern Branch) leader Sheikh Raed Salah to "protect the Mount," according a public statement by the Islamic Movement. The statement noted that a number of buses were stopped by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at roadblocks and prevented from traveling. Several other busloads, led by Northern Branch Deputy Kamal al-Khatib, reportedly reached Jerusalem's Old City at approximately 10:00 a.m. Upon their arrival, a scuffle broke out in the Lion's Gate area (a main point of access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount for Muslim worshippers); according to Israeli National Police statements, two INP personnel were injured, and three protesters, including al-Khatib, were arrested. ¶4. (C) As a result, INP and Israeli Border Police (IBP) on-site closed the Mughrabi Gate and cancelled normal Sunday visiting hours for non-Muslims on October 4. INP and IBP briefly sealed the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount to Muslim worshippers and Waqf officials as well. Two Waqf officials were eventually permitted access to the compound; by 1:00 p.m., limited access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount was restored. According to local observers, protesters who had remained on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount platform dispersed and departed the area throughout the afternoon, although Waqf official Yusif al Natshah estimated that as of 6:00 p.m. there were still "some protectors" at the site. ¶5. (C) After a day's detention in the Russian Compound, Hatem Abdel Qader was released by GOI authorities on the evening of October 4 on bail and his pledge to stay 150 meters' distance from the borders of the Old City; Kamal al-Khatib was also released after paying a fine. Post contacts' and press estimates of protesters injured in clashes with INP varied from 10-30, with most injuries described as minor. PA Jerusalem Governor Adnan Husseini and Head of the Jerusalem High Islamic Council Abdel Azim Salhab told Post midday on October 4 that protesters on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount believed that Temple Mount Faithful members were massed on the Western Wall plaza and intended to enter the compound. However, we have no confirmed sightings of identified Temple Mount Faithful in the area, and the Mughrabi Gate (the only entry point for non-Muslim visitors) remained closed throughout the day. ¶6. (C) On the morning of October 5, local press reported JERUSALEM 00001766 002 OF 002 that between 10,000 and 30,000 Jewish worshippers arrived at the Western Wall for the Birkat Hakohanim, or "priestly blessing" service. The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount remained closed to non-Muslim visitors; Muslim males over the age of 50 and Muslim females were permitted access. (Note: Old City restaurant owner Abouda Ghayth noted to Post that Muslim youth were easily able to access the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount despite these restrictions by jumping from adjacent apartment windows onto the platform.) INP and IBP presence remained heavy throughout the Old City. As of midday, no violent episodes had been reported inside the Old City's walls; the morning's only known disturbances were incidents of stone-throwing on the Mount of Olives and in East Jerusalem (no injuries were reported). ¶7. (C) The views of Israeli police, Israeli settler organizations, and the Waqf differed on October 4's incidents. Jerusalem District Police Commander Aharon Franco told local press that Palestinian protests showed "ingratitude" for accomodations offered to Muslim worshippers during Ramadan. Daniel Luria, leader of the Ateret Cohanim settler organization, defended the right of Jewish worshippers to enter the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, and expressed "disgust" with the INP in a conversation with PolOff. "Rather than dealing with the Muslim rioters," asked Luria, "they close down the Temple Mount to Jews?" Meanwhile, Waqf official Yusif al-Natshah accused Israeli authorities of seeking to marginalize the Waqf's custodial role at Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. He expressed frustration at Israeli restrictions on Waqf access to the platform on October 4, arguing that any denial of access constituted a violation of the Israeli-Jordanian status quo agreement. RUBINSTEIN