The Israel Police are considering the use of sophisticated technological measures to boost security on the Temple Mount, officials said Sunday, warning that the security threats in and around the holy site do not distinguish between Israelis and Palestinians. "There are quite a few scenarios that speak of the possibility that an Islamic State terrorist or even a Jewish one will try to ignite a religious war in the Middle East by means of a mass-casualty attack on the Temple Mount," one official said. The volatile situation in Jerusalem has prompted the police to explore several plans to enhance security at the holy site, including the use of advanced technological measures that would foil attempts to smuggle weapons into the prayer compound. Metal detectors were installed at the entrances to the Temple Mount following a deadly terrorist attack there on July 14, in which three Israeli Arabs shot and killed two Israeli police officers. Commenting on the use of metal detectors, which has sparked Palestinian riots in the Old City of Jerusalem over the past week, one police source said metal detectors "were a first-response measure to the [July 14] terrorist attack and they currently provide an acceptable response [to threats]. We are exploring alternatives and those found to be suitable will be adopted. These things take time." One of the measures being explored is deploying a network of "smart cameras," closed-circuit TV cameras equipped with facial recognition software to identify suspects in real time if they manage to enter the Temple Mount. The profiling of terrorists indicates that they often pray at Al-Aqsa mosque prior to carrying out attacks, and the police say smart cameras would greatly improve security forces' chances of apprehending them. The police stressed, however, that this would be another security tier, as the system would only be able to identify terrorists whose photos are already in intelligence service and defense establishment databases, making it less effective against lone terrorists. Other measures explored include the deployment of a sophisticated network of license plate capture cameras that use specialized software to identify and record license plates on still or moving vehicles; the use of handheld explosives trace detectors; and employing special x-ray weapon detection technology that would exclude the need for security forces to pat down suspects. Still, "If you want to generate deterrence opposite people who are planning to smuggle weapons into the complex, metal detectors are your best option," one police officials said, adding that to defuse tensions, they "should be used selectively." Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Sunday that the Palestinian claim that the metal detectors at the gates to the Temple Mount are fueling riots is bogus. "The metal detectors are just an excuse. We won't capitulate to threats and violence," he said. Also on Sunday, the police agreed to release the bodies of Muhammad Ahmed Jabarin, Muhammad Hamed Abdel Latif Jabarin and Muhammad Ahmed Fadel Jabarin -- the three gunmen who carried out the July 14 terrorist attack that killed Staff Sgts. Maj. Kamil Shnaan and Haiel Sitawe -- for burial in their northern hometown of Umm al-Fahm. The police conditioned the bodies' release on a deposit of 75,000 shekels ($21,000) to guarantee their pledge that the three would have low-key funerals, without the presence of politicians or the media.
