Security forces are preparing for Pesach on many fronts, including the noticeable increase in hostile and threatening statements from within the PA and Islamic community pertaining to Jews visiting Har Habayis during Pesach. YWN-ISRAEL has reported numerous such calls during recent days, calls to “use any means necessary” to prevent Jews from visiting Har Habayis during Pesach.

Government ministers including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon calls for calm and PM Netanyahu has released statements to both Jordan and the PA that Israel’s religious status quo regarding Har Habayis remains unchanged. In addition, the Prime Minister stated provocation and violence would not be tolerated in any form whatsoever.

Following is the statement released by Mr. Netanyahu during a Thursday afternoon 6 Nissan pre-Pesach toast with officials from the Union of Local Authorities.

“We must be patient. We know that there are attempts, even now, to change the trend of a decline in the number of terrorist attacks.

There are, at present, attempts to rekindle the unrest and the violence, especially over Pesach and Har Habayis, as we previously experienced during the holidays last autumn. Ahead of Pesach, all kinds of extremist elements are spreading lies about our policy on Har Habayis in order to cause riots and stir things up. We are working against these inciters. We will increase our forces in places of friction; we will use additional defensive measures. We are also sending messages to Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and the entire Arab world.

I also call on you, local council heads and mayors, Jewish and Arab alike, to work with your publics in order to calm the mood. Do not allow an extremist minority to change the order of things.

I tell you for certain:

There is no change in our policy regarding the status-quo on the Temple Mount. Do not believe the lies, which I regret are also being spread by several MKs. We are committed to maintaining the peace and the security and will do whatever it takes to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)