Israeli police: 'Changes to the status quo at Al-Aqsa will be disastrous'

The Israeli police force in Jerusalem acknowledged its inability to put an end to the escalating clashes in the city and stressed that the use of more force will not be feasible. The police emphasised that a political solution is the only thing that could achieve a sense of calm in the occupied city.

Intelligence agencies within the police sector doubt that “the current bout of violence in Jerusalem” can be dealt with by using more brute force towards Palestinian Jerusalemites.

In a session aimed at assessing the situation, which was attended by senior officials within the police force, it was determined that the police could only efficiently contain individual incidents; however, the greater tensions and clashes within the city can only be addressed by implementing a large-scale solution on the political level.

According to the police, the current situation was caused by recent events in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding platform, not the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir or conditions in East Jerusalem. The police warned government officials of the dangers of continuing their current policies in Al-Aqsa Mosque. They described the Knesset’s actions as “irresponsible” because they are allowing the violence to escalate.

Today, Haaretz newspaper published an article stating that a meeting occurred between members of the Knesset and the police wherein it was decided that more police personnel would be deployed to the Jerusalem area in an effort to calm the situation.

While it was agreed upon that the police would be able to contain localised and independent incidents, the government also stressed the responsibility of parents to monitor the activities of their children, especially minors. The government has warned families that there will be large fines imposed on families whose children are involved in the clashes and while this “may help calm the current round of violence, it will not end it completely”.

The paper also reported that the chief of the Jerusalem police force sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him to prevent members of the Knesset from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and to stop making statements that incite violence in the city. According to the newspaper, Netanyahu agreed to the request and allegedly asked the Knesset to show more restraint.

It has been reported that members of the Knesset including Miri Regev have put pressure on the Jerusalem police force to allow them entry into Al-Aqsa Mosque. The police have warned: “Any action taken to change the status quo of Al-Aqsa and its surrounding platform will be disastrous.”