Surveillance Cameras Are Being Installed

Al-Quds City news web site is claiming that outisde the Temple Mount, surveillance cameras are being installed.

Some quite close to the compound along the routes leading in to the gates (although I think this is just a photograph of an upkeep operation as cameras have been affixed near Al-Madjles Gate for a long time as that is where the Waqf headquarters are):

and others, outside the compound but inside the city walls:

These potential life-saving equipment items are not appreciated. ^

Find the Difference

When Jordan refers to cameras at the Temple Mount, we find a certain, er, inconsistency:

Momani: Aqsa cameras to connect all Muslims with holy shrine Installing cameras at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif will enable 1.7 billion Muslims across the globe to remain in touch with the holy shrine and those taking care of it, State Minister of Media Affairs, Muhammad Momani, said on Wednesday.

The minister, who is also government spokesman, said the cameras will put an end to violations by extremist Israeli settlers, explaining that they will not be installed at praying places at the holy shrine. This is a clear evidence that the cameras are meant to monitor moves by extremist Jews and not to monitor Muslim worshippers, he explained.

Momani added that the installation of the cameras will refute Israeli claims that "Palestinian rioting" is to blame for their provocations and violations against the holy shrine by Israeli police and extremists. The minister emphasized that the cameras and the footage they will provide will help Jordan document Israeli violations and pursue legal action at international arenas.

He noted that Israeli right-wing groups oppose the installation of cameras at the holy shrine because this measure will strengthen the Jordanian presence at the holy site.

That was March 2016.

But, in 2013:

Jordan urges Israel to remove surveillance cameras from Jerusalem mosque 
Jordan rejects Israel's move to install surveillance cameras at the Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem to monitor Waqf and Hashemite reconstruction workers and Muslim worshippers, Minister of State for Media Affairs and official government spokesman Mohammad Momani said on Tuesday.

"Jordan strongly dismisses the presence of a police station inside the holy Al Aqsa compound and deems it as a flagrant military assault against the freedom of worship and an interference in the affairs of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf, which has the jurisdiction and the mandate to maintain security and ensure the safety of worshippers and tourists inside the compound," he said.

Momani called on the occupation authority to remove all military manifestations from the Haram Al Sharif compound, including the police post and the cameras, which were put up last week, and all other cameras installed at the Bab al Magharebah Gate in 2011 to monitor movement into and out of the compound.

And another flip-flop:

55 cameras to be installed at Al Aqsa Mosque within days, minister
 Minister of Awaqaf and Islamic Affairs Hayel Daoud said that surveillance cameras will be installed at Al Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram Al Sharif in the coming few days.

The minister said in a statement that the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, affiliated with the Awqaf Ministry, will be in charge of the cameras, which will cover an area of 144 dunums through a control room...The minister denied allegations that the cameras will be used against "Al Murabitun", adding that these cameras will be used to protect Jerusalem and Jerusalemites.

That was on March 20, 2016.

But on April 18, three weeks later, we read:

PM: Jordan cancels plan to install cameras in Al Aqsa Mosque

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said that Jordan has always been, and will remain the staunchest supporter and defender of Palestine, its people and cause as well as its holy shrines.

Ensour added in a statement to Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Monday that, "stemming from this historic stance, the main objective behind Jordan's decision to install surveillance cameras at Haram Al Sharif compound and not inside the mosque, was to monitor and document the continued Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which extends over an area of 144 dunums...

"However, we were surprised since our intention to carry out the project, by the response of some of our Palestinian brethren to the project, adding that they voiced their concern and cast doubt on its aims and objectives. "As we respect the points of views of our brethren in Palestine in general and in Jerusalem in particular, and because we always affirm our full support to the Palestinians and their aspirations at all times, we found that this project is a point of contentious and therefore, we decided to halt its implementation.

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Remember the Surveillance Camera Fiasco?

Throwback reminder:

Israel and Jordan agree to put surveillance cameras on Temple Mount
October 25, 2015

Then

JORDAN: CAMERAS TO BE INSTALLED ON TEMPLE MOUNT TO DOCUMENT ISRAELI 'VIOLATIONS'
MARCH 19, 2016

And then

JORDAN ABANDONS PLAN TO INSTALL CAMERAS ON TEMPLE MOUNT
APRIL 18, 2016

And now:

Video from security cameras [outside the compound - YM] obtained by the police shows the first moments of Friday morning’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem, in which police officers Haiel Sitawe and Kamil Shnaan were murdered.

As can be seen in the video, the armed terrorists were in the vicinity of the Temple Mount compound, exploiting the sanctity of the site and Israel’s easing of restrictions on worshippers in order to harm the security forces.

I warned about it. I warned about Um El-Fahm.  I wrote about a problem with cameras in 2014. 

But I'm just a blogger.


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UPDATE I

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Saturday, 15 July 2017), held a telephone consultation on the issue of the Temple Mount. It was decided to gradually open the Temple Mount to worshippers, visitors and tourists beginning tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, 16 July 2017). It was decided that the entrance gates to the Temple Mount would be equipped with metal detectors and that cameras would be installed outside the Mount to cover events on the Mount. Additional security steps will be taken later.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Israel Police Insp.-Gen. Ronni Alsheich. ISA Director Nadav Argaman and Jerusalem District Police Commander Yoram Halevy participated in the consultation.

Outside???

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UPDATE II

Chutzpah from our peace treaty partner:

Amman, July 15 (Petra) -- Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Wael Arabiyat on Saturday warned of Israel's unprecedented and persisted violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif sanctity under the pretext of containing violence and tension.

The minister held Israeli authorities responsible for the mounting tension and violence in the holy compound because of the violations committed by the occupation authorities and Jewish extremists against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, indicating that Jordan rejects Israel's closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing worshippers from praying under any circumstances.

In a statement issued today, Arabiyat said Israel's closure of the Mosque on Friday was a dangerous and unprecedented act and constitutes an assault on the freedom of worship. He further added that the Israeli move runs contrary to the principles of religious coexistence and world and social peace and forms sheer breach of international law.

And by the way, this is an example of an incomplete news item category of bias.

Haaretz’s Barak Ravid published at 1:07 AM on the paper’s web site that Jordan's King had condemned the Temple Mount Attack and that a government spokesman called on Israel to immediately reopen the holy site and to avoid measures that change the status quo. However, just before 11 PM on the Saturday, that item above was available.

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UPDATE III

And let the people speak:

Jordanians express outrage over Al Aqsa closure    By Suzanna Goussous - Jul 16,2017

AMMAN — Activists and political parties on Saturday expressed outrage over the Israeli decision to close Al Haram Al Sharif compound in occupied Jerusalem until Sunday, banning Arabs and Muslims from entering the mosque and performing prayers.

...Minister for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani on Friday condemned the attack on Palestinians and the closure of the mosque.  Jordan called for the reopening of the mosque, stressing that the Jordanian government will continue to employ its diplomatic, legal and political tools to deal with any attempts to change the legal and historical situation in Jerusalem, Momani said.  

Jordanian MP Kais Zayadin, rapporteur of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, wrote a post on social media calling on the international community to set punishments for Israel, as it has “executed unarmed Palestinian citizens, without a trial”.

He added: “This terrorist act violates all international legislations and conventions. All those who claim to promote democracy and human rights must act upon it immediately,” he wrote, adding that “the shooting violates the sanctity of the dead”.

And check this.

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