The escalating violence brings to mind the events of September 2000, after opposition leader Sharon visited the Mount, but with a few significant differences By Avi Issacharoff The decision taken overnight Thursday-Friday to leave the electronic metal detector gates at the entrances to the Temple Mount compound — placed there after the July 14 attack in…
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I respect the author, having heard him in person on at least one occasion and on the basis of his usually well-informed and balanced articles in the Times of Israel. This article, however, is puzzling in its vagueness. Based on a vague fear of “repercussions” in the rest of the country, Arab countries and the rest of the world, he advocates removing the detectors on the Temple Mount? Worse yet, he concludes by saying “When it comes to the metal detectors — which are in any case not a hermetic security panacea — there are alternative, viable suggestions.”…. without even hinting what these alternatives might be.
Without the introduction of such alternatives – assuming they make sense and are viable – the current metal detectors MUST remain in place lest more Israelis will climb to their death thanks to more Palestinian fanatics who will successfully smuggle weapons undetected. Besides, there is no reason why Israel should not take advantage of yet one more Palestinian mistake (encouraging the killing of Israelis by lone wolves) to finally correct Moshe Dayan’s unbelievable 1967 misjudgment in when he decided unilaterally to hand over control of the Temple Mount to the Waqf, which has amply demonstrated in the last 50 years how unworthy of that trust it is. It is time for Israel to reclaim full control over the Temple Mount and to remove the Waqf. No matter what the “world” or anyone else says.