Israel removes Waqf cameras in Al-Aqsa

Israeli police yesterday removed cameras that the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem’s administration had installed at one of the entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Director of the Waqf Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib said.

In a written statement that was made available to the Anadolu Agency, Al-Khatib said: “Waqf teams installed surveillance cameras at the Mughrabi Gate but the Israeli police intervened and took them.”

“We condemn the Israeli intervention in the Awqaf’s affairs, and consider this a sign that Israel wants to install cameras to serve its interest only, and does not want cameras to show the truth,” he added.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “Final arrangements for the manner and location of the cameras on the Temple Mount, which was agreed upon between Israel, Jordan and the United States, were supposed to be coordinated at the professional level.”

“The cameras will be installed according to the arrangements to be determined between the parties. Israel has already expressed its consent to start the process as soon as possible.”

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said on Saturday, after a meeting in Amman, Jordan, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II, that the latter suggested that surveillance cameras be installed to operate throughout the day in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and said that Netanyahu agreed to that “excellent suggestion”.

Palestinian territories and Arab towns in Israel are witnessing clashes that broke out between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces after extremist Jewish settlers repeatedly stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli army and police.