Report: Gunmen Hid Weapons on Har Habayis Before Attack, May Have Been Helped by Muslim Waqf Officials

Israel’s Channel 2 reports that three Waqf officials were under arrest on suspicion of assisting or encouraging the Har habayis attackers. It said the three gunmen had stored their weapons inside the compound several days before Friday’s attack. One of the three Waqf officials arrested was reported to have been seen acting suspiciously on security cameras (Times of Israel).

Abbas Condemns, Netanyahu Reaffirms Status Quo

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone on Friday – a rare occurrence. The Israeli side reported that Abbas condemned the attack and Netanyahu informed him there was no intention of changing the status quo with regard to worship on the Har Habayis.

The three terrorists, as was obvious from the video footage released by the police, opened fire from within the Al-Aqsa mosque complex outward, on the Border Police stationed at the entrance. Not only was the taboo broken of gunfire at a site sacred to both religions, but someone on the Palestinian side may have aided the assailants to smuggle the weapons in (Ha’aretz).

Israeli Police Uncover Weapons in har Habayis Searches

Israeli police uncovered dozens of weapons in the Har Habayis compound during searches, Yerushalayim Police Chief Yoram Halevi told Army Radio. “We found dozens of knives, slingshots, cudgels, spikes, inciting material, unexploded munitions, [and] stun grenades,” Halevi said. “The search was coordinated with Waqf officials, including even having one or two Waqf people accompany us” (Times of Israel).

Israel Mourns Officers Killed

The two Israeli Druze police officers were laid to rest in their northern Israel villages. Haiel Sitawe, 30, joined the Israel Police in 2012 and had served in the unit responsible for securing the Har Habayis ever since. He leaves behind a wife, Irin, and a three-week-old son. Kamil Shnaan, 22, had signed on as a career officer seven months ago. He was the son of former Labor Party Knesset member Shachiv Shnaan. His engagement party was to be held next week.

Police Chief Roni Alsheich said to the families of the officers, “We embrace you and promise you that you will never walk alone,” adding that the two “died defending Yerushalayim.”

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}