Swift action by the police rescued members of the Knesset’s Interior Committee from a hostile Arab crowd on the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem today. But the police came under fire from committee members for evacuating them and from the Moslem Supreme Council, which charged police brutality against the Arabs.
The committee members visited the Temple Mount, site of Islamic shrines, this morning to investigate complaints that the Moslem religious authorities were allowing illegal construction there. Shortly after they entered Solomon’s Stables, adjacent to the Al-Aksa Mosque, they were surrounded by Arabs who demanded they leave.
A shoving match began, and according to Likud MK Dov Shilansky, the committee chairman, he was beaten by Arabs. Shilansky said the Imam (Moslem religious leader) announced on the public address system that Jews were taking over Moslem holy places. The announcement drew scores of angry Arabs who threatened the lives of the Knesset members. Police rushed to the scene and safely evacuated them.
MKS DENOUNCE THE POLICE
In the Knesset later, Shilansky and Yuval Neeman of the rightwing Tehiya Party, denounced the police for evacuating the threatened Israeli legislators instead of taking measures to let them continue their tour of the site undisturbed. They expressed shock that such an incident could take place under Jewish sovereignty.
Shilansky insisted that the visit had been coordinated in advance with the police authorities who are usually informed.
The Temple Mount, where the Al-Aksa and Dome of the Rock (Mosque of Omar) are located, is the third holiest shrine in the Moslem faith. It is also the site of the Second Temple. Jews are permitted to worship at its Western Wall but not on the Temple Mount itself– a situation that infuriates Orthodox and ultra-nationalist Jews.
The Moslem Supreme Council sent a telegram to Premier Shimon Peres today claiming the Knesset members brought extremist elements with them to the Temple Mount and carried cameras in what amounted to a provocation. They also charged that police and soldiers beat up several Arab guards.
Haim Albaldes, Commander of the Jerusalem police, rejected the allegations by both Jews and Arabs. He said police re-enforcements arrived swiftly and protected the lives of the MKs.
Mayor Teddy Kollek expressed hope the incident would not sour relations between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem.
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