In an unusual move, police have detained the Jerusalem Mufti, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, on Wednesday, according to an AP report.
The detention followed Arab attacks and violence against Temple Mount tourists on Tuesday.
The police did not say what the Mufti’s specific involvement was.
Over the past few months, Arabs have been escalating the level of their violent attacks on the Temple Mount to include stoning and firebombs.
In April, the Waqf, controlled by the Mufti, informed the Prime Minister of Israel that “World War 3” would break out if MK Moshe Feiglin visited the Temple Mount.
In 2006, Hussein stated in an interview that suicide bombing by Palestinians against Israelis was “legitimate, of course, as long as it plays a role in the resistance”.
In 2011, at an event marking the 47th anniversary of the founding of the terrorist organization Fatah, Hussein quoted a controversial hadith, stating: “The Hour will not come until you fight the Jews. The Jews will hide behind stones or trees. Then the stones or trees will call: Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”
In short, the man’s got a history.
Police said the Mufti would be released later today, but still, even for this short time, this was a nice gift to Israel on Jerusalem Liberation Day.