Israel Blamed for Muslim Rioting on Temple Mount

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israel is under fire for the upsurge in Muslim violence on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, but Israel says it's not making trouble.

The most recent flare-up on the Temple Mount started on the eve of the Jewish holidays. Rioters prepared in advance and attacked police four days in a row.

Earlier, Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told reporters how it works. Muslim men barricade themselves inside the al-Aksa Mosque a day ahead of time and hide rocks and petrol bombs there.

"From inside the al-Aksa Mosque, Muslims…are throwing petrol bombs and stones and desecrating their own mosque and attacking our police officers. Our police officers have to respond," Rosenfeld explained.

Women hurl abuse and objects at visitors.

"Tourists that have been walking around the Temple Mount, Jewish individuals that are walking around on the Temple Mount, that are causing no threat whatsoever, they've been attacked, stones have been thrown at them," he said.

The Dome of the Rock is the oldest Islamic structure in the world. It was built in 691 A.D. on Mount Moriah where the Bible says Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

But long before there was a Muslim shrine and a mosque, two consecutive Jewish temples were built there in Bible times.

Now, Palestinians say Jews and non-Muslims have no right to pray there. That's the current status quo.
 
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon outlawed two organizations causing trouble on the Temple Mount. CBN News recently encountered a hostile group of men and women in the Old City who were prevented from going up to the Mount.

"I don't like Jews," one man said.

"This is our house. This is Aksa," another said. "No picture anything. This is the mosque. This is our house."

One lady said, "Aksa is for the Muslims," while others shouted Allahu Akbar (Allah is greater) as they shoved a Koran, Islam's holy book, toward the camera.

In response to the recent hostility, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the status quo on the Temple Mount would remain. Since it's such a contested site, it's likely the unrest will continue.