For the fourth day in a row, a mob of dozens of Arabs attacked Jews Wednesday morning who came on pilgrimage to the Temple Mount compound.
Arab rioters have been stockpiling rocks, cement blocks, fireworks, firecrackers, rocks, firebombs and pipebombs in the Al Aqsa mosque on the site for use as ammunition against visiting Jewish pilgrims and Israeli security personnel. They have even broken walls within the holy mosque in order to use the pieces as weapons during their riots, according to a Jerusalem official.
Israel Police were physically assaulted by Islamic Waqf mainenance personnel in the morning on the Temple Mount after they attempted to protect a group of Jewish visitors to the site from screaming Arabs who hurled bottles at them in the compound.
According to a report by the Hebrew-language “0404” news website, the Islamic Waqf maintenance personnel showed no apprehension or concern that they would be reprimanded by their own security staff as they attacked Israeli police officers who were guarding the Jewish visitors.
A Muslim mob quickly gathered and surrounded the Jewish tourists despite a recent order signed by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, banning such groups.
Israeli police deployed at the compound attempted to protect the Jewish visitors and to distance the Muslim mob, but at that point, the Waqf maintenance personnel began to shove the police officers and then simply attacked them.
Although Israeli police acted “with great restraint” Arab rioters succeeded in hurling a bottle at the Jewish visitors, according to the 0404 website.
Miraculously, none of the Jews were physically injured although obviously there was a certain level of trauma experienced by those who ascended to the site.
As a writer with clinical background, I also wish to raise the issue of how these repeated, daily traumas must impact the views and ultimately the lives of young Israeli security personnel as well.
It is important to recognize that it is impossible for any human being to ignore constant provocation, antagonism and trauma without also eventually being affected. Each person reacts to that in different ways — but the effects, when not addressed, can be permanent. Our most precious resource in Israel is human.
“Therefore choose life.”