Israeli police interrogated Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, chief of the Islamic Supreme Committee, and preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday afternoon over possible charges of incitement and disturbing public order.Keep in mind that even now, none of the outraged Arabs have even claimed that the visitors to the Temple Mount did anything the least bit threatening or disruptive. Arab reports themselves say that the devout worshippers started throwing stones, chairs and shoes at the presumed "extremists" whose "crime" was to walk around like any tourist while under the influence of Judaism. The police protected the visitors and did not initiate any violent actions. It seems likely that had the police not been there, the Arabs would have happily massacred the Jews.
The interrogation came after Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters at the Al-Aqsa Compound on Sunday after Israeli settlers were reported entering the sensitive holy site.
Sheikh Sabri said that he was interrogated at the Russian Compound prison in Jerusalem from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday. “They falsely accused me of inciting Palestinian youths to hurl stone at Israeli police officers. They also questioned why I called Palestinian citizens to head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Sheikh Sabri accused Israeli police of allowing extremist settlers to access the Al-Aqsa compound, and then protecting them while inside. He said the intrusion was a violation of the mosque’s sanctity. He said that to protect the settlers, Israeli police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at worshippers.
But that doesn't stop other extremist Islamic clerics from inciting their people with the latest lie that it is the Jews who are threatening a massacre at Al Aqsa. From Palestine Today (Arabic):
Tamimi is fabricating a clear series of lies and incitement to violence. Based on what happened last week, this incitement is likely to have very dire results.
Dr. Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, Chief Justice of Palestine and chairman of the Christian-Muslim organization in support for Jerusalem and the holy sites, warned today of a potential massacre inside the Al Aqsa Mosque.
The Chief Judge's warning came after extremist Jewish groups called on supporters to collectively storm Al-Aqsa on the occasion of the so-called 'Eid throne' [Sukkot holiday] to the Jews, beginning on Sunday, 4/10/2009 until Thursday 9/10/2009.
Sheikh Al-Tamimi renewed his call for the masses of our people in all positions, especially the residents of Jerusalem and the territories of 1948, to continue mobilizing the armed forces [I believe that this translation is correct -EoZ] and the intensification of attendance at the Al Aqsa Mosque, to protect, defend and oppose attempts to breach it, as of next Sunday, to thwart Israeli plots to prejudice its sacredness and to undermine and destroy it.
He said that anyone who has access to Jerusalem and fails to do so is a sinner.
He called to consider this Friday a day of angry protests and marches in every Arab and Muslim town after Friday prayers in support of Al-Aqsa mosque to condemn the actions of the occupation. He also called preachers of mosques throughout the Islamic world to customize their Friday sermons to the issue of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque, and expose the schemes and the Israeli occupation practices against it.
Dr Tamimi said there is a deliberate intention by the occupation authorities and the extremist Jewish groups to commit a massacre in Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially after the statements by occupation police chief Aharon Franco[?] in Jerusalem, who said that 'Jews have the right to arrive safely and enter the mosque, like the Muslims who performed their religious rites during the month of Ramadan on the Temple Mount without interference.'
He added that the Israeli government is secretly seeking the division of Al-Aqsa Mosque, as they did in the Ibrahimi Mosque [Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron] after the acts of terrorist Baruch Goldstein who had the support of the Israeli occupation forces for the massacre of worshipers, to impose their control upon establishment of the alleged temple on its ruins.
Not a single Arab spokesman has yet condemned the throwing of stones and chairs at a group of peaceful visitors to the Temple Mount. On the contrary, even the most moderate of them have praised the "defense" of the "sanctity" of Al Aqsa done by the masked stone-throwers.