(police spokeswoman)
Amram Nidam, commander of the Jerusalem Police, says in an interview with the Shabbat Square that about 100,000 Palestinians passed through the checkpoints today (Friday) on their way to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the Temple Mount.
He refers to the numbers of Muslims who went up to the Temple Mount during the month of Ramadan, and the gaps between the weeks: “The first Shabbat the ascent was minor; the second Shabbat over one hundred and ten thousand passed; the third Shabbat was relatively calm – today we reached almost a hundred thousand.”
He explained the police and logistical assessments for accommodating the many Muslims. “We are talking about one hundred thousand people who pass through three crossings within seven hours. The Qalandiya crossing, the Rachel crossing and the Zeit crossing. These crossings are intended for Palestinian residents of Yosh on their way to prayers. Men with permits, according to the restrictions – pass, women and children pass freely.”
“In terms of crossing the Palestinian population on the way to the Temple Mount: 70 percent women; 30 percent men. The crossings are not used to absorbing such a large amount of people on a daily basis, this requires appropriate assessments on our part.”
According to him, “Because this year there were no restrictions, the area responded to it very well – you can see it in the numbers of people standing on their way to the Temple Mount. On the second Shabbat, we had 80 people who needed urgent medical care and pressure on the infrastructure. Today we had ten people who needed medical care. The infrastructure was not Such amounts are compatible and we are making every effort to make the transition smooth.”
Amram Nidam says, “Every Friday this month, we arrested about a thousand people who were denied entry who tried to enter through non-roads, and another thousand who tried to enter through fences and loopholes.”
“When there are many people who do not have a permanent permit to stay in the country. We take the summary and check the people through technological means and do tests.”
He said that there is “a 42 percent increase in Palestinian women in the past year in the area of crossings, after they recognized that they are less suspicious, who try to sneak across the border and cross illegally. The MGB recognizes the trend and handles it accordingly.”