Cameras to Assure Islamic World Israel Not Changing Temple Mount Status Quo

Israel will permit the installation of cameras on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount in order to assure Jordan, the Israeli-appointed custodian of Muslim holy sites, and the rest of the Arab world that Israel is not altering the status quo – a charge leveled at the Jewish state and vehemently denied by Israeli officials. Under agreements dating back to 1967 when Israel took control of east Jerusalem in the war of that year, a Muslim trust known as the Waqf was established to represent Jordan relative to the administration of Islamic holy sites. Jews and Christians were specifically denied the right to pray on the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram Al-Sharif. Allegations charging Israel with altering the status quo, meaning to allow non-Islamic prayer, and “Juda-izing” the site are cited as casus belli for weeks of violence in the streets including stabbings and the shooting of Israelis. The number of Jewish groups visiting the Temple Mount has increased as have public statements arguing religious freedom demands the ability of all religions to pray anywhere they please. On Tuesday, three Palestinians were killed after attempting to stab Israeli soldiers in two separate incidents in the West Bank. Also on Tuesday, Amnesty International accused Israel of using “extreme and unlawful measures” in fighting the new “popular terror” typified by stabbings of soldiers. Of particular concern was the killing of Palestinians the rights group argues did not pose an imminent threat, characterizing the incidents as “extra judiciary executions.