Israel sends more troops to West Bank amid tensions over Al Aqsa
Israel said it had sent more troops to the occupied West Bank yesterday, hours after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas announced he would freeze all ties with Israel until it removed metal detectors from the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Israel did not elaborate on how many troops were sent to the Palestinian territory but said hundreds of soldiers were sent on Friday.
It follows an escalation in violence between the Israelis and Palestinians over tensions at the compound.
On Friday, three Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured when Israeli security forces opened fire during protests over Israel’s installation of the metal detectors and other “security” measures at the compound.
Palestinians say these measures are not motivated by security but are an attempt by Israel to expand its control at the Muslim-administered site, known as Haram Al Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary.
Also on Friday, a 20-year-old Palestinian man killed three Israelis in their home in the West Bank settlement of Halamish. In a Facebook post written before the attack, Omar Al Abed said he planned to avenge Israel’s “desecration” of Haram Al Sharif.
Yesterday morning, Israeli troops searched Al Abed’s family home in the West Bank village of Kobar and detained one of his brothers, the army said. He was led away by soldiers, blindfolded and in handcuffs.
The Israeli army said soldiers searched the house and measured it in preparation for demolition. Ibrahim Al Abed, an uncle of the assailant, confirmed the family was told the house would be destroyed. Human rights groups say such demolitions amount to collective punishment.
The army also restricted all movement out of the village except for “humanitarian cases”.
Mr Al Abed said his nephew had been arrested three months ago by Palestinian security forces and detained for two weeks. He said Omar had been violently interrogated about plans to attack Israelis before he was released.
Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman visited Halamish yesterday and called on Mr Abbas to condemn the settler killings.
On Friday evening, Mr Abbas announced he would freeze ties with Israel on all levels until the metal detectors were removed from Haram Al Sharif, but did not say whether this meant halting security co-ordination.
Ending security ties would have far-reaching repercussions and sharply raise tensions with Israel.