Palestinian Leadership Slammed for Refusing Cameras Over Temple Mount

Though Palestinian leadership has continued to make unproven allegations related to Muslims being mistreated at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount compound, where the Al Aqsa mosque stands, Palestinian leaders have continued to reject measures–such as the installation of cameras at holy sites–that could provide proof for their claims.

Jordanian leaders have criticized Palestinian Authority officials for dismissing the idea, saying that the cameras will protect “the Aksa Mosque by documenting what’s happening at the site.”

Israel and Jordan, which controls the Waqf Department security for the mosque compound, agreed to the new transparency deal when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was visiting the region last week.

But the deal is a new scheme conjured up by the Israelis, according to Palestinian officials. It is “a new trap by Israelis” designed to “thwart the Intifada,” Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told Voice of Palestine radio.

Jordanian politicians have called Mr. Maliki’s suggestions “inappropriate,” “unfair,” and “inflammatory,” Jordan’s Al-Ghad reported, according to a Jerusalem Post translation.

“The Cameras will document everything, including those who want to assault Palestinians or Israelis,” said Adnan Abu Odeh, an advisor to Jordan’s current and past kings. “The cameras will document anyone who carries out an assault or Jews who want to pray there,” he added.

Israel is hoping to install 24-hour surveillance at the Temple Mount site “as soon as possible,” an official from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. “We have no interest in delaying this,” he added.

Palestinian leaders have decried the supposed “desecration” of the mosque as a reason for the ongoing weeks-long Palestinian terror campaign against Israeli Jews.

“Each drop of blood that was spilled in Jerusalem is pure blood as long as it’s for the sake of Allah. Every martyr will be in heaven and every wounded person will be rewarded by Allah’s will,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in September, adding that Palestinians’ “hands are with who are protecting Al-Aqsa mosque.”