Palestinians aren't missing the chance to fan the flames
Israel sparked the most recent crisis over Jerusalem, but both the U.S. and the PA are adding fuel to the fire.
By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel Tags: East Jerusalem Israel news PalestiniansEven though it was Israel who sparked the most recent crisis over Jerusalem, it is not the only player adding fuel to the fire. The behavior of the Obama administration - with senior officials trying to outdo each other in public reprimands of Israel - is reminiscent of the intentionally tough stance taken on the Netanyahu government a year ago. Nor are the Palestinians missing the opportunity to fan the flames.
True, the prime minister played into their hands on the matter of proposed construction in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, and Jerusalem's mayor is still at it, but the Palestinian Authority is playing a very dangerous game - perhaps the most dangerous of it all - over Jerusalem and specifically the Temple Mount.
Mohammed Dahlan, who is not known for his religious fervor, Khatem Abdel Kader, who holds the Jerusalem portfolio in Fatah, and others called Sunday on Israeli Arabs and residents of East Jerusalem to go to the Temple Mount today to "protect it from the Jews."
A pamphlet Sunday issued a similar call; it was signed by the National and Islamic Forces, an organization that coordinated activities during the second intifada and in practice does not exist today. The pamphlet said that a great 18th-century rabbi foretold that the opening of the Hurva Synagogue, which is expected today, will inaugurate the opening of the Third Temple and therefore Al-Aqsa Mosque must be defended.
It is doubtful that Dahlan or Abdel Kader genuinely believes Al-Aqsa is threatened. There's a different reason behind their call: Fatah watched Hamas steal the show from the Palestinian Authority in managing the struggle over the Temple Mount in recent weeks. Grassroots activists from the Islamist Movement in Israel led the demonstrations. Meanwhile, the police in Israel arrested many of them, and Fatah believes this is the time to take advantage of that success. If the government of Israel has become a punching bag for the White House, another round of violence at the Temple Mount will only serve Palestinian interest.
Fatah wants to ride the tiger and use future clashes for its needs. That is why Abdel Kader held a meeting at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem with senior Fatah activists in the city and representatives of trade associations in the Old City. It was decided to hold a two-hour strike at 11 A.M. These are the hours when pupils leave school and go to noon prayer, perfect timing for yet another lunch break of riots.
Such meetings were held at the Ambassador in the past. In September 2000, on the eve of Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount, senior Fatah officials in the city met there to plan the protest over Sharon's visit, which led to the outbreak of the second intifada.
Israel apparently is not taking any chances this time. Defense Minister Ehud Barak heeded a recommendation by the police heads and extended the closure of the West Bank to prevent Palestinians' being brought in to bolster demonstrations in East Jerusalem. Barak's decision ran counter to the recommendations of Central Command and officials coordinating activities in the territories, who thought closure was unnecessary.
While the PA prepares for the next stage in the struggle with public protests (easier to sell for world sympathy than suicide bombings) an incident in Ramallah recalled other days. An anti-terrorist police squad arrested Maher Auda, known as the Last of the Mohicans in the city's Hamas terrorist underground, who is believed responsible for the murder of some 70 Israelis.
Auda, 47, was the right-hand man of Ibrahim Hamed, the head of the Hamas network in Ramallah, who was arrested in 2006. Auda, who has evaded capture for a decade, has been described by a Shin Bet agent as "even more dangerous than Hamed." His wanting to see his family led to his arrest. He was captured without a battle.
Posted by Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel on March 15, 2010
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The Philistines were put in place by the Romans after they sacked and burnt Jerusalem. The Palistinians are the decendance of the Philistines. Seems that some know little of the historical side as well as the spiritual side of Jerusalem, when daily is is staring you all in the face. Evidence is there in the archilogical site, so take your Bible and read and see.
give up the occupation
If this situation isn't what Netanyahu has intended to create over the last years then is really dangerous to Israel. If it IS what he has been trying to achieve, then he is merely dangerous to Israel.
From the Palestinian nationalist perspective why not continue with business as usual? Since the 1920's anti-Zionists view willful Palestinian provocations, not to mention subsequent Palestinian acts of willful and intentional pogrom, rioting, and anti-Jewish depredation as automatic proof that the Zionists must be doing something wrong to hurt those precious doe-eyed dearies. But from an Israeli perspective it is a wonder that it should subject itself to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune by permitting access to the Temple Mount and its precincts to free agents and agents of cross cutting Palestinian factions. Surely this is reason to consider shutting down Palestinian PR manipulation by denying them the photo opportunities of the negotiating process--certainly it is a reason for a short-term 100% embargo on Palestinian worship and Palestinian presence on the Temple Mount.
Let me tell you this, there was never a palestine and there never will be! Recent,(65 years ago)Israel was occupied by the Englisch/jordan. Before that there were the Turks. Before that is was Bysantium. Before that Israel was occupupied by the East-Romans and before that the Romans. So my friend, there was never a palestine and therefore this people have no right of demanding this or that, nor the Americans have. By the way, Americans, how about the indians? About 300 years ago?
The fact is that the old dream (63 years old), of two states for two people has proved itself to be no more than a sweet idealistic dream. The Palestinians want a real state not just a 5th floor studio without a lift and running water. The Israelis are divided, only the parliamentary majority is such that the power is in the hands of very old fanatic rabbis controlling simple-religious, racial-religous, hassidic and various other extreme religious parties, and a veriety of extreme right fascist parties; and of cours the Likud with its old dream (Jabotinsky's) of "two banks to the Jordan these are ours also..." (SHTEY GADOT LAYARDEN ZO SHELANU etc.). , e
Don't get excited Chas because the next chapter will show that Israel is still the victor and still in control of Jerusalem. You may want a rewrite done by hamas or hezbollah but they don't have the brains or the brawn to complete a full chapter in the book of history.
Why should Israel share Jerusalem with the arabs? Jerusalem means nothing to them. If there was a garbage heap in the middle of Tel Aviv and the palestinians coveted it they would call it Holy and lay claim to it....Why are you so eager to let Jerusalem fall into the hands of Israel's enemy? Do you have such a short memory that you cannot remember what they did to the City of David when they had control? Something tells me you are a plant for Haaretz if not you are one misguided foolish lady who has a problem with reality.Share with the palestinians...my G-d they do not know the meaning of the word share and never will.
I am with Esther. Get back to sharing Jerusalem. The article started out okay until it got to the first, "but." Everything there after was a rationalization for bad behavior. Unfortunately the crazy thing about rationalizations is that they sound so rational. Israel did wrong. The world, including the USA and many Israelis see the legimate solution to the Israel and Palestine is just that, a two-state solution. Right now the PA is appearing more legimate then Likud. There is something to be said for a leader (Fayad) who focuses on institution building.
and Israel can't get off without getting badly mauled. Netanyahoo has finally boxed Israel into a corner. It has been a long time in coming. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next chapter.
Iraq , Packistan, or the killings in Somalia, Darfur, Sudan, Philipines, Tibet, etc. Why this obbsession with Israel? Is that because we have a free press in Israel? or because you prefer the liquidate the only existent Jewish state?
Have you ever asked for a poll to find out how the regular American feels about Israel? I bet you have.I believe even friends like me are turning against the State of Israel, because it becomes more and more clear that it is you that don't want peace and that you sabotage whatever all presidents have tried to do.It is not good for you to continue doing what you are doing.
Both of you are trying to divert the attention by blaming the Palestinians for fanning the flames. We are not Idiots but you both are. Missing the chance to fan the flames - the flames are sky high nobody has to fan the flames now. The policies of the Israeli government is to be blamed for this mess and both of you - God save all of us from fools like you...
san remo 1920 mandate 1924 if these are the fairies referred to by areal pratt the answer is yes !
Why not ,our great Prime Minister gave them the matches !!!
Who's fanning the flames? You are pointing fingers in the wrong direction and have no legs to stand on. Ever hear of Pinoccio? Your noses are getting longer. Salaam/Shalom
Let's hope that the Palestinians really understands this opportunity to wreck havoc to the US_Israeli special relationship. FREE PALESTINE NOW!!!!!!!
Which faeries might these be Paul, the ones that promised you all the land of "eretz israel"
who is doing the sharing esther ?? the men or the women of the arab society ?
... now let's get back to the central issue of sharing Jerusalem, ours & theirs, as fairly as possible...