US envoy visits bereaved families of cops slain at Temple Mount
In ‘heartbreaking’ visit, David Friedman pays respects to relatives of Haiel Sitawe, 30, and Kamil Shnaan, 22
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US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman on Thursday visited the families of two Israeli police officers killed last Friday by three Arab Israeli gunmen at the Temple Mount.
Haiel Sitawe, 30, and Kamil Shnaan, 22, of Israel’s Druze community were the victims of Friday’s deadly attack.
“Met today with families of Haiel Sitawe and Kamil Shnaan who were murdered last week defending the Temple Mount,” Friedman wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “Heartbreaking. Praying for these two beautiful families.”
Sitawe joined the Israel Police in 2012 and had served in the unit responsible for securing the Temple Mount ever since. He left behind a wife, Irin, a three-week-old son, his parents and three brothers. Shnaan was the youngest son of a former Labor Party Knesset member, Shachiv Shnaan. His engagement party to his girlfriend was to be held this week. Shnaan was survived by his parents, one brother and three sisters.
Met today with families of Haiel Sitawe and Kamil Shnaan who were murdered last week defending the Temple Mount. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/8gIkV7orsX
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) July 20, 2017
Heartbreaking. Praying for these two beautiful families. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/TnYkESK23T
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) July 20, 2017
The White House on Wednesday said it was “very concerned” over tensions surrounding Jerusalem’s Temple Mount complex, urging Israel and Jordan to restore calm to the area after days of violent clashes.
Muslim worshipers have been protesting Israel’s decision to install metal detectors and other security measures at entrances to the holy site in the wake of a deadly terror attack near there on Friday, saying the move breaks the delicate status quo agreement between Jerusalem and Amman.
Police on Thursday released video footage from the terror attack showing how the assailants were assisted in smuggling the guns into the Al-Aqsa Mosque there on the morning of the shooting.
“The United States is very concerned about tensions surrounding the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif, a site holy to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and calls upon the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to make a good faith effort to reduce tensions and to find a solution that assures public safety and the security of the site and maintains the status quo,” the White House press office said in a brief statement.
It added that Washington would “continue to closely monitor the developments.”
Waqf officials have boycotted the site in protest of the metal detectors and have called on other Muslims to do the same.
Muslim worshipers have clashed with police for several days outside the Old City, in riots that have left dozens injured.
Officials are worried that tensions may come to a head on Friday — the Muslim holy day — should the metal detectors remain in place.
The high-level security cabinet was meeting overnight Thursday-Friday on the issue. At midnight on Thursday, police were already closing off roads to Jerusalem and setting up checkpoints.
Under the status quo governing the site, Israel controls access to the site and the Waqf Islamic trust set up by Jordan administers activities inside the compound. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit but are prohibited from prayer.
In the wake of the attack, the White House backed Israel’s decision to close the Temple Mount, the first time it had been shuttered on a Friday in decades.
“We urge all leaders and people of good faith to be understanding as this process proceeds and reaches its conclusion,” the White House said then.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
The Times of Israel Community.