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The Temple Mount Crisis: An Israeli Perspective

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Michael Herzog - I am told by Israeli government officials that Jordan was notified of the decision to place the metal detectors at the Temple Mount and initially expressed no objection. From Israel's perspective, the status quo was undermined when terrorists smuggled weapons into the Muslim holy site and subsequently killed two Israeli policemen. Israel bears responsibility for the overall security situation in and around the Temple Mount, and had to respond to the attack. It could not respond in a business-as-usual manner without additional security measures. There is no doubt that Israel understands the importance of Jordan's role in Jerusalem, respects it, and much prefers it to anyone else's. Israel is certainly at odds with attempts by Islamist supporters such as Turkey to meddle in Jerusalem. At the same time, Israel is aware of the limitations of Jordan's ability to play a stabilizing role in times of crisis. The recent crisis demonstrated how difficult it is for Jordan to openly stand up to and contain Islamist incitement and religious inflammation. This crisis also showed that Jordan does not fully control the Waqf administration, which is responsible for daily management of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, even though Jordan pays its salaries. Close coordination with Jordan is extremely important to Israel and should be maintained and continually enhanced. However, such coordination cannot replace Israel's own responsibility for securing the Temple Mount. If violence erupts in this extremely sensitive place, it is Israel, and Israel alone, that will be blamed. The writer, a participant in nearly all Israeli-Palestinian negotiations since 1993, is a former chief of staff to Israel's minister of defense.
2017-08-28 00:00:00
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