<P> Commissioner Edward Keith - Roach described the screen as violating the Ottoman status quo that forbade Jews from making any construction in the Western Wall area . He informed the Jewish community that the removal had been carried out under his orders after receiving a complaint from the Supreme Muslim Council . The Arabs were concerned that the Jews were trying to extend their rights at the wall and with this move, ultimately intended to take possession of the Al - Aqsa Mosque . The British government issued an announcement explaining the incident and blaming the Jewish beadle at the Wall . It stressed that the removal of the screen was necessary, but expressed regret over the ensuing events . </P> <P> A widespread Arab campaign to protest against presumed Jewish intentions and designs to take possession of the Al Aqsa Mosque swept the country and a "Society for the Protection of the Muslim Holy Places" was established . The Vaad Leumi responding to these Arab fears declared in a statement that "We herewith declare emphatically and sincerely that no Jew has ever thought of encroaching upon the rights of Moslems over their own Holy places, but our Arab brethren should also recognise the rights of Jews in regard to the places in Palestine which are holy to them ." The committee also demanded that the British administration expropriate the wall for the Jews . </P> <P> From October 1928 onward, Mufti Amin al - Husayni organised a series of measures to demonstrate the Arabs' exclusive claims to the Temple Mount and its environs . He ordered new construction next to and above the Western Wall . The British granted the Arabs permission to convert a building adjoining the Wall into a mosque and to add a minaret . A muezzin was appointed to perform the Islamic call to prayer and Sufi rites directly next to the Wall . These were seen as a provocation by the Jews who prayed at the Wall . The Jews protested and tensions increased . </P> <P> A British inquiry into the disturbances and investigation regarding the principal issue in the Western Wall dispute, namely the rights of the Jewish worshipers to bring appurtenances to the wall, was convened . The Supreme Muslim Council provided documents dating from the Turkish regime supporting their claims . However, repeated reminders to the Chief Rabbinate to verify which apparatus had been permitted failed to elicit any response . They refused to do so, arguing that Jews had the right to pray at the Wall without restrictions . Subsequently, in November 1928, the Government issued a White Paper entitled "The Western or Wailing Wall in Jerusalem: Memorandum by the Secretary of State for the Colonies", which emphasised the maintenance of the status quo and instructed that Jews could only bring "those accessories which had been permitted in Turkish times ." </P>

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