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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Security forces gear up for Ramadan as tensions remain high in Jerusalem, West Bank |
| 2023-03-22 |
| [IsraelTimes] Police say more officers to be deployed around Old City for Friday prayers during Moslem holy month, warn of terror groups inciting violence; IDF preemptively arrests instigators. Israeli security forces are once again gearing up for the Moslem holy month of Ramadan, which coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover this year, with tension already high across the West Bank and in Jerusalem. Police anticipate hundreds of thousands of visitors — mainly Paleostinians — will come to Jerusalem during Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and reflection observed by Moslems worldwide, which is expected to begin Wednesday or Thursday and end April 21. Ramadan has often been marked by festivities and high tension between Israel and the Paleostinians. The IDF in recent weeks has conducted "preemptive" arrests of dozens of Paleostinians identified as instigators of violence, and they are expected to remain held during Ramadan. Other wanted Paleostinians who were allegedly planning terror attacks have been killed or arrested during recent raids. Police warned Sunday of "those who try to take advantage of the holidays to spread incitement on social media, false rumors and disinformation, in particular in relation to the holy places." Police said terror groups and other terror elements have in the past used Ramadan to incite and cause rioting in Jerusalem. Law enforcement officials said police would act "without compromise against rioters and those breaking the law, who harm or attempt to harm those who pray and celebrate, or who use the holidays to harm civilians or security forces." Officials at the police’s Jerusalem district held meetings in recent days with various local officials and community leaders to coordinate the holiday activities in the capital. IDF officials have held similar meetings with Paleostinian officials in the West Bank in recent weeks. Police said that on Fridays during Ramadan, there would be an increased presence of coppers throughout Jerusalem, especially in the Old City and near the Temple Mount, as numerous worshipers are expected to pray at the al-Aqsa Mosque. A police official told news hounds that the Jerusalem district has a shortfall of over 800 coppers to properly ensure security. For Paleostinian Moslems, worship at the al-Aqsa Mosque — the third-holiest site in Islam — is a central part of the festival. Jews revere the same hilltop as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in their tradition. The Israeli army has eased some restrictions on movement for West Bank and Gazook Paleostinians to allow women, children, and some men to pray at al-Aqsa without permits. Police said they are also preparing for Passover and Easter, which will take place during Ramadan this year. "The purpose of the preparation and police activity in Jerusalem during Ramadan is to enable freedom of worship... while maintaining security, law and public order," a police statement said. "Police will act to secure all the worshipers who arrive at the holy places on these days, Moslems, Jews and Christians, with the aim of allowing everyone freedom of worship," the statement added. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |