Jerusalem's holy sites must be protected, open to all to conduct their religious rites and to enable people from all religions to appreciate the cultures and civilizations that exist there. Today Jerusalem is not open, it is not united and there is no free and protected access for all to religious sites. There cannot be peace in Jerusalem unless this changes.
Jerusalem's religious sites, if not treated with their due respect and honor, have the potential of becoming the ultimate weapon of mass destruction, bringing the entire region to explosion. For this reason, it is essential that we all know more about each other and our connections to the holy city of Jerusalem.
That is an auspicious introduction to a reaction to Islamic radicalism asserting Muslim intolerance and unwillingness to coexistence and share a holy site that is sacred to not only Islam and Judaism but also Christianity.
However, its author, Gershon Baskin, continues:
The flashpoint holy site...is referred to as the Temple Mount...Judaism's mainstream rabbis, the official Rabbinate of the State of Israel and the vast majority of ultra-Orthodox rabbis have all determined that Jews should not even step foot on the site...but there is a small minority amongst extremist right-wing elements in Israel that call for Jews to defy the status quo and enter the site anyway.
...But there are no Israeli plans to take over al-Aqsa. There are no plans to demolish the mosque or to divide it and allow a space for Jewish prayer. The Israeli government is well aware of the extremely sensitive nature of this issue.
Those who raise the threat level surrounding al-Aqsa or the Haram are being dangerously irresponsible. Al-Aqsa is not in danger. Those who spread the rumors and the fears otherwise are playing with fire. These kinds of rumors could easily cost countless innocent human lives.
It is absolutely mandatory that responsible people on both sides calm the atmosphere regarding the Haram and al-Aqsa...
That is a major contribution to pacification efforts but I would wish to read Sheikh Raas Salah's response.
Here's a statement from last by Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem and preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque that:
Al-Aqsa mosque is an Islamic Waqf and it is only for Muslims
Also last year we read that
Abdul Rahman Abbad, the head of the Muslims’ scholars council in Jerusalem, told Ma'an, “Muslims are the only ones who own this mosque.” He insisted that religious authorities are not bound by Israeli decisions, and warned of Israel's intentions in issuing such a statement ahead of the holy month of Ramadam, when Muslims flock to the compound.
and last month, we read this:
“We are asking the Israeli police not to provide permission for the huge numbers of Jews who visit and especially to bar the extreme Jews from entering the Noble Sanctuary,” says Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director of the waqf...
President Obama couldn't visit because he'd be accompanied by Israeli officials.
Even Abbas is no moderate:
“Israel has no right to split up the Al-Aqsa Mosque, neither physically nor in terms of prayer times,” Abbas said, and stressed that “all East Jerusalem is Palestinian.”
Hamas is opposed, it goes without saying, to any overt Jewish identity with and on the Temple Mount. And so, yielding to extremism and to those who deny equality of rights, Baskin continues:
Israel should repeatedly announce that when there are no threats to public safety, free access to the Haram is ensured, as was demonstrated during the holy month of Ramadan. The policy of free and safe access to holy places must be guaranteed by religious leaders and political authorities.
And by free access, he knows he supports denying Jews freedom of worship and access, despite the law. Jews are excluded from human rights considerations. All of a sudden, he supports the Rabbinate and its interpretation of the Halacha.
That is another example of what I call The Left's Fault Line of Hypocrisy.
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