Police on Monday morning 19 Tishrei police stormed Har Habayis before Arabs could execute their planned violence. The recent days have been marred by Arab violence on Har Habayis, leading to police to close the holy site down to all non-Muslim visitors.

Dozens of Arab youths worked during the night to gather stones, blocks, barbed wire, fireworks and other items they planned using to attack police and pedestrians. The barbed wire was being set up as an improvised blockade against police. The items planned for use in the attacks were being stored in al-Aqsa Mosque. Police report they used cabinets used to store the shoes of worshippers to barricade the doors of the mosque to keep police out. Police also found metallic rods, wooden planks and other items that were intended as weapons.

Police used riot-control adjuncts and in a preemptive operation, sabotaged the day’s planned violence. Police officials announced that unlike in the previous days, the holy site would remain open to all visitors.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Israel Police)