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The Shin Beit security service has raised the alert level in Jerusalem.
Police presence has been stepped up in and around the Old City and
officials announced that the Temple
Mount would be closed to Jews on Sunday.
The Temple Mount is the city's most sensitive holy site - revered by
both Jews and Muslims. Israeli right-wing groups and opponents of the
government's plan to disengage from Gaza say they'll hold a mass rally at
the Temple Mount on Sunday.
Public Security Minister Gidon Ezra told Israel Radio on Thursday,
the police will be ready.
He said the police will have reinforcements and will not allow any
provocations. He warned of possible violence between protesters and
Muslims who have already warned that Jewish extremists plan an attack.
The Jewish extremist Revava movement is organizing Sunday's rally and
its leader, David Ha'Ivri says no provocation is intended.
He says the Temple Mount is the heart of the nation, the Jewish
national symbol and Jews should have a right to pray there. That's all
we're asking, he says - as in any democratic country.
Right-wing groups have vowed massive protest actions to disrupt the
upcoming Gaza withdrawal.
Muslim authorities have expressed fears that the extremists could try
to attack the Temple Mount. Sheikh Abdallah Darwish, spiritual leader of
the Islamic Movement in Israel says there are no synagogues atop the Temple Mount,
only mosques and they belong to the Muslims.
Sheik Darwish says once the radicals are let in there will be no end to
it. We won't be able to control it, he warns - it will be chaos.
Islamic leaders have called on their followers to go to the Old
City to try to protect the holy shrine from attack by Jewish
extremists.
Security officials fear a meeting of the two groups would spark instant
clashes. Officials say any attack on the Temple Mount could have
far-reaching consequences and could lead to widespread violence.
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