Keep updated on the the latest news regarding Temple Mount tensions with 'The Jerusalem Post.'
By SETH J. FRANTZMANFriday, July 14, 2017 7 a.m. Three terrorists shoot two police officers.8 a.m. Old city and Temple Mount closed to civilians.12 p.m. Police confirm identities of attackers as Muhammad Hamad Abdel Latif Jabarin, Muhammed Ahmed Mafdal Jabarin, Muhammad Ahmed Muhammad Jabarin, all from Umm al-Fahm.Police confirm identities of two slain police officers as Haiel Stawi from Maghar and Kamil Shnaan from Hurfeish.1 p.m. Muslims hold mass prayers outside old city as members of Islamic Wakf calls on Israel to reverse decision to close Temple Mount area.1 p.m. approx. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas condemns terror attack in Jerusalem.
Kingdom of Jordan government spokesman Mohammed Momani issues statement, “Israel must reopen al-Aksa mosque and the Haram al-Sharif immediately.”2 p.m. Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein briefly detained by Israel while protesting closures at Lion’s Gate.4 p.m. Funeral for Haiel Stawi in Maghar.5:30 p.m. Funeral for Kamil Shnaan in Hurfeish.5:30 p.m. approx. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls on police to remove mourners tent for terrorists in Umm al-Fahm.Saturday, July 15, 2017Metal detectors installed next to Lion’s Gate and other gates to the Temple Mount.Temple Mount remains closed to Muslim worshipers.Strict security in Old City.Sunday, July 16, 2017Israel Police re-open Temple Mount to limited Muslim worship.Only two of the ten gates to Temple Mount opened by Israel police, the Gate of the Tribes and the Council Gate.Member of Knesset from the Joint List arrives at Lion’s Gate to protest. Taleb Abu Arar says “it is far more than breaching the status quo. The Israeli government is defiling the mosques. They took advantage of the situation to impose complete control over the compound.”12 p.m. 300 protesters gather at Lion’s Gate to protest Israel.5 p.m. Police disperse protesters at Lion’s Gate, Red Crescent says four are injured.Monday, July 17, 2017 Israel police reopen three gates to the Temple Mount: the Gate of the Tribes, Gate of the Council, Gate of the Chain Islamic Wakf releases statement condemning metal detectors: “If the metal detectors continue to be imposed on the gates to the blessed al-Aksa Mosque, we call upon our people to pray and worship in front of the gates of the al-Aksa Mosque and in the streets of Jerusalem and its alleys.”Palestinian activist and PLO executive committee member Mustafa Barghouti comes to Lion’s Gate to protest. “We have been under occupation for 50 years and we will not get used to the new injustice. People will try entering in every possible way without going through the electronic devices.”Dozens of Palestinians gather for prayer protest at Lion’s Gate.Tuesday, July 18, 2017US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert discusses Temple Mount “The horrific attack should not detract from the push for peace, but rather remind us all that, there is a need for peace. We can’t let the actions of a few undermine prospects for both Israelis and Palestinians.”Dozens of Palestinians continue nightly protests and prayers at Lion’s GateWednesday. July 19, 2017 9 a.m. Temple Mount closed to non-Muslim visitors in morning due to tensions Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah calls on international community to force Israel to remove metal detectors Palestinian Fatah party calls for “Day of Rage” over Jerusalem metal detectors Islamic Wakf instructs imams in Jerusalem not to hold sermons in their mosques on Friday but instead send worshippers to areas adjacent to Temple Mount, according to Wakf director Azzam al-Khatib.Reports in media that Shin Beat and IDF concerned about decision to use metal detectors Hamas tweets support for rejecting “Israeli closure measures” and urges protests to oppose “Zionist occupation.”7 p.m. Israel briefly restrict entrance of Palestinians to Old City to only those who reside in the city, fearing riots.8 p.m. Hundreds of Palestinians gather for prayer protest at Lion’s Gate.Thursday, July 20, 2017Police release video showing a fourth accomplice of the July 14 attack helped smuggle guns into Old City and onto Temple Mount.IDF places five battalions of soldiers on alert for disturbances as thousands of police deployed in Jerusalem.Two dozen Palestinian protesters injured at Lion’s Gate in clashes with Israeli police Security cabinet meets with Netanyahu to decide on metal detectors.Friday, July 21, 2017Security cabinet decides to leave metal detectors in place7 a.m. Prime Minister’s Office: “Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount.”Zionist Union MKs criticize security cabinet’s decision. Omer Bar Lev: “The State of Israel fell into the trap laid for them by the terrorists to change our conflict with the Palestinians to a religious conflict between Islam and us.”10 a.m. US Embassy Jordan issues warning over demonstrations in Amman protesting Israel.12-1 p.m. approx. Noon prayers held outside the gates of the Old City and Temple Mount. Israeli police report tens of Muslim worshipers that decided to go through the metal detectors to the Temple Mount.1 p.m. approx. Minor clashes are reported between Muslim worshipers and Israeli police in Jerusalem. Reports of clashes at Kalandia checkpoint and protests in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Tulkaram, Jericho and Hebron.7 p.m. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas announces end of all contacts with Israel suspended until Israel agrees to “cancel all steps against the Palestinian people as a whole and against the city of Jerusalem and the Al-Aksa mosque in particular.”More than 3,000 Palestinians are reported to have taken part in protests.2 p.m. - 7p.m. Three Palestinian protesters killed in clashes. Nineteen-year old Mohammad Abu Ghanem from A-Tor, 18-year old Mohammed Khalaf Lafi from Abu Dis and 18-year old Mohammed Sharaf from Ras al-Amud.10 p.m. approx Palestinian terrorist Omar al-Abed from Khobar stabs to death Yosef Salomon, age 70 and his two children, Chaya Salomon, 46 and Elad Salomon, age 36 in Halamish in the West Bank.Saturday July 229 a.m. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot visit Halamish, site of Friday’s terror attackQuartet, representing the Russian Federation, the United States, European Union and United Nations, issues statement on Jerusalem situation. “Strongly condemn acts of terror, express their regreat for all loss of innocent life caused by the violence…call on all to demonstrate maximum restraint.”Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan releases statement condemning Israel’s excessive use of force and saying Muslim world and international community will not remain silent about restrictions on freedom of worship at Haram al-Sharif. “metal detectors and other restrictions must be lifted immediately.”Palestinian protester twenty-three year old Yousif Kashour killed in Abu Dis. Oday Nawajaa, age seventeen, killed in protests in Azariya.Sweden, France and Egypt request UN Security Council meeting on Jerusalem clashes. Talks scheduled for Monday.Clashes and protests reported in a dozen locations in West Bank from Qalqilya to Qalandiah, as well as five neighborhoods in Jerusalem and in Umm al-Fahm and Nazareth inside the Green Line.Sunday July 23Hundreds of Muslims continue mass prayer and “sit-in” in Old City of Jerusalem protesting Israel security measures.