Netanyahu’s family involved in installing metal detectors in Jerusalem 2017
The move nearly sparked a new Intifada in Jerusalem
Jerusalem24 – It was revealed last night that the family of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened in the issue of installing metal detectors at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The metal detectors which were installed in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem in July 2017. This led to an outbreak of protests and demonstrations by the Palestinians that almost sparked a new intifada.
According to the Israeli news website Ynet, a testimony provided by state witness Nir Hefetz a former media advisor to Netanyahu stated that Netanyahu almost made a decision that could have ended with thousands of deaths.
The website alluded to the metal detectors crisis, a decision Netanyahu made at the behest of his wife Sarah and son Yair.
Senior officials familiar with the decisions told the Israeli website that they had no idea who was behind the scenes. The gates were put in place after killing of two Israeli security officer, prompting the former commissioner of the Israeli police requested the metal detectors.
The same sources indicated that after the Palestinian protests, Netanyahu supported the removal of the detectors. According to Ynet, Hefetz, who was in Netanyahu’s closest circle at the time, knew what was going on behind the scenes.
In May 2018 the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahranot reported that the Israeli police investigators had asked Hefetz to testify about the crisis with Jordan after embassy incident and the metal detectors. At the time, he had said that Netanyahu acted under pressure from his son and wife; contrary to the position of security officials.
Last night, Netanyahu’s Likud party issued a statement denying this information, noting that Hefetz did not participate in any security talks.