PM to council heads: Don’t believe lies about Temple Mount

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Thursday for the third time in five days of attempts to heat up the situation on the Temple Mount.

The prime minister’s statement reflected the very real concern that Passover, which begins next Friday evening, will see a spike in terrorist attacks that have lately been on the decline.

“We need patience,” Netanyahu said at a pre-holiday toast in Tel Aviv with the Federation of Local Authorities. “We know that there are attempts, even now, to change the downward trend in the number of attacks. There are attempts, even now, to try to renew the incitement and violence, especially around Passover and the Temple Mount, as we experienced earlier [in October] during the High Holy Days.”

Netanyahu said that as the holiday is approaching, extremists are “spreading lies” about the Temple Mount to cause riots.

Israel was increasing security forces in areas of friction, and also working against those inciting to violence, he said. In addition, Jerusalem has conveyed messages to Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab world that it has no intention of changing the situation on the Temple Mount.

Netanyahu called on the local authorities, both Arab and Jewish, to calm down the situation and “not let an extreme minority” change the downward trend in terrorism.

“There is no change in our policy regarding the status quo on the Temple Mount,” he said. “Don’t believe the lies, even those being spread unfortunately by some Knesset members.”