Minister urges Arab MKs to avoid Temple Mount incitement
'Be a moderating influence and not an inciting one,' Public Security Min. Aharonovitch tells Arab lawmakers.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Jerusalem Israel news Temple MountPublic Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu) on Tuesday urged Arab lawmakers not to incite riots on the Temple Mount.
In a speech to the Knesset plenum he said: "Be careful what you say, and do not ignite a fire on the Temple Mount. Be a moderating influence and not an inciting one."
His comments were seen as directed toward a number of Arab Knesset members who have been critical recently over the conduct of police during disturbances at the Mount.
Aharonovitch also said that in the violent incidents of the past few weeks, 127 people were arrested for disturbing the peace, of whom 40 had been indicted.
"I know the rioters are only a small fraction of the Arab community, with whom the majority does not agree," the minister said. "There will be no compromises with this small fraction."
Aharonovitch said the Temple Mount had been open over the past few days to all visitors.
But MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) said: "With all the talk there is no freedom of religious practice in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Tens of thousands of worshipers from the West Bank were prevented from [coming to the mosque]. Every week or two there are limitations on the entrance of worshipers."
Zahalka added, "When representatives of the government said there was freedom of worship they were simply lying."
The lawmaker also said the prime minister's statement that there were no excavations under the Temple Mount was a lie.
"If he is right, let a neutral committee of experts be established to examine whether such excavations were underway and whether these excavation are endangering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in case of an earthquake," Zahalka said.
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Let him start with his own house before he dictates to others to whom the Temple Mount belongs. Afterall, they have tried numerous times, sometimes succeeding to pray on the Mount, to change its present status. They have procured a red heifer, made vestments, ritual implements and have a cornerstone all ready to go and have marched around the walls of the Old City, declaring to all Muslims that they are prepared and ready to start building. And that is not incitement???
Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch has a (half) a point. Let all Israel's law makers avoid the Temple Mount.
Each time I promoted the idea that cooling passions over the Temple Mount was a good Idea. Each time I suggested that israel had done no wrong in it's response. Both times, I stated that I was most moved and approved of the fact that though he was a member of Yisrael Beiteniu, Minister Aharovonvich had done the right thing by promoting the interests of Israel over the bigotry of his party. And twice my comments have been censored by Haaretz. Why? Am I only allowed to criticize Israel and any word of compliment to be suppressed to deny the truth? Is it necessary that the censors not allow me to speak in favor of any Israeli, or Israel? What did I do wrong? Nothing I think, except that I offended the prejudices of the censors. The censors are afraid that someone might upon circumstances be both critical and supportive of Israel. We, the correspondents of talk back are allowed only to be pathetic parodies of ideological convenience. Shame on Haaretz.
Why was that compliment censored? This is a challenge, I know, to the ability of Haaretz to manipulate and cast my comments in the politically correct light. But I still think that Minister Aharonovich transcended his parties (Yisrael Beitenium) position of using racial and political hatred to advance it's position. I think he was most correct to appeal to Arab MKs to not exacerbate the situation for political gain. Did he NOT give up the chance to exacerbate the situation for political gain? And why is my recognition of that fact considered so detrimental to Israel that it must be censored?
This is what Arab MKs do and what they have always done and I did not know they served another function?
The same needs be requested of right-wing Israelis. The incitement was from both sides, and mostly because of poor communications and unnecessary suspicions. Any politician who seeks to gain favor by instilling public disorder or hatred between citizens is a person of questionable morality and sense. It is good to see Minister Aharonovich acting in the nation's interest instead of his parties. Yisrael Beiteinu is one party which has consistently incited hatred between Israeli citizens.