By Israel Today—
There was bolstered security in and around Jerusalem’s Old City just days after two Border Police officers were shot dead by Muslim terrorists following prayers atop the Temple Mount.
Recently, Jordan, which administers the Temple Mount, complained about Israel installing metal detectors at the entrances to the holy site.
So, Israel removed them.
And that allowed three terrorists from the northern Israel town of Umm al-Fahm to attend Friday Islamic prayers armed with guns, which they used to murder the Israeli policemen as they departed the time of worship.
Both of the victims were identified as members of Israel’s Druze minority.
Israeli responded by closing the Temple Mount completely for the first time since 1969, reinstalling the metal detectors and arresting three Islamic Trust (Waqf) officials who are believed to have facilitated or encouraged the attack.
Israel was scheduled to reopen the Temple Mount to Muslim worshippers on Sunday afternoon following a fierce outcry from the Islamic world.
Ignoring almost completely the unprovoked attack on the policemen, Muslim leaders from Israel and from across the Arab world accused the Jewish state of moving the region closer to religious conflict.
Muslims claim that Israel will use such incidents to “Judaize” the Temple Mount. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that he will maintain the status quo and continue to prevent Jews from praying at Judaism’s holiest site, in accordance with Muslim demands.