Haaretz
July 25, 2004
Israeli security officials have recently become
increasingly concerned that right-wing extremists might be plotting an
attack on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to derail Israel's planned
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Shin Bet security service and the
police are preparing for a number of possible terror attack scenarios at
the sacred Old City site, Israeli security sources said last night.
Speaking on the Channel Two "Meet the Press" program yesterday,
Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed that the security
establishment had identified rising intent among right-wing extremists to
carry out a Temple Mount attack.
"There is no information about
specific individuals, because the Shin Bet and police would not let them
continue [with their plot]," said Hanegbi. "But there are troubling
indications of purposeful thinking, and not detached philosophy... There
is a danger that [extremists] would make use of the most explosive site,
in the hope that a chain reaction would bring about the destruction of the
peace process."
Security sources last night said possible actions
included an attempt to crash a drone packed with explosives on the Temple
Mount, or a manned suicide attack with a light aircraft during mass Muslim
worship on the Mount. Other possibilities include an attempt by right-wing
extremists to assassinate a prominent Temple Mount Muslim leader, perhaps
from the Waqf Islamic trust.
Israeli security sources speculate
that the assassination scenario might be chosen, even though it would not
cause mass injury or damage to the Al-Aqsa mosque or the Golden Dome
shrine. The aim of the Temple Mount attack conspiracy, they said, would be
to carry out a visible provocation that sparked violent confrontation in
the territories.
Due to stringent security routines at the Temple
Mount, Israeli security officials said yesterday, right-wing extremists
would find it virtually impossible to use conventional routes to penetrate
the site with explosives. Hence, the possibility of a large bomb being
planted at one of the Muslim holy sites is "a lower-level possibility."
Yesterday's disclosures about possible Temple Mount terror plans
were preceded in recent months by a number of troubling indications. Nine
months ago a suspect in a Jewish underground terror group affair, Shahar
Dvir-Zeliger, told authorities a prominent West Bank settler activist had
planned a Temple Mount attack. Zeliger cited two other names of West Bank
settlers, suggesting the two were involved in the Temple Mount attack
conspiracy.
Last Thursday, the Temple Mount Faithful group
petitioned the High Court, asking to be given clearance to go up to the
Holy Site for prayers later this week for Tisha B'Av.