Letter to the Editor Re: Temple Mount

Jerusalem Post Weekend Magazine, Otober 29, 2021

Jeremy Sharon’s excellent overview of the Temple Mount situation at present should have recalled four background essentials for a fuller understanding of the issue.

Firstly, the sanctified Jewish “Temple Mount” area is smaller than the Muslim al-Haram al-Sharif, and Jews do not seek to enter Muslim buildings. There is enough room for Muslims, Jews and Christians to pray without “invading” another’s territory.

The second is that Jewish prayer is recognized as a basic right by decisions of the High Court of Justice based on the 1967 Law for the Preservation of Holy Places. Prayer is not illegal.

Third, the status quo of 1967 is not upheld by the Muslim Wakf, which has built three new mosques within the compound, destroyed historical and archaeological artifacts and altered administrative customs.

Fourth, Jordan, which is responsible for the (Jerusalem) Wakf Islamic religious trust and funds it, refuses to fulfill its obligations as per the 1994 Peace Treaty with Israel. Article 9 reads: “Each Party will provide freedom of access to places of religious and historical significance... The Parties will act together to promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions, with the aim of working towards religious understanding, moral commitment, freedom of religious worship, and tolerance and peace.” Even the positioning of surveillance cameras that could help prevent violence at the Temple Mount was sabotaged by Jordan.

YISRAEL MEDAD

Shiloh

^

The Quran and Jewish Rights on the Temple Mount

Do Jews have rights to the Temple Mount, upon which today is the Haram E-Sharif esplanade with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque?

Is the Temple Mount a Jewish holy place? Does it possess sanctity within Judaism? Should it be revered and respected?

The Waqf, the Islamic religious trust which administers the Temple Mount under Jordanian custodial supervision, with a new council whose members identify with Fatah, Jordan, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Turkey, denies that and seeks to subvert any Jewish expression of identity with the iste.

Now, consider this from Omer Salem’s “Missing Peace” on page 63:-


Then Allah clarified to Prophet Muhammad unequivocally in the Holy Qur’an that Allah wishes Ahlul Qur’an (Muslims, i.e. People of the Quran) to have a one qibla [direction of prayer]– Masjid Haram in Mecca - and that Ahlul Kitab (Jews, i.e., People of the Book) have a separate qibla  – The Temple Mount, Jerusalem. 

Here is the prooftext for the two different qiblas

“And even if you bring to those who have been given the Book/Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qibla, nor can you be a follower of their qibla, neither are they the followers of each other’s qibla, and if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, then you shall most surely be among the unjust/wrongdoers.” (Quran 2:145)

If there was one verse in the Holy Quran that gives God-fearingJews the right to pray on the Temple Mount, or to share the Temple Mount with their Muslim neighbors, this verse is it.

Salem further explains there

Allah ordered prophet Muhammad to change the qibla from Masjid Aqsa (the al-Aska Mosque located on the Temple Mount) to Masjid Haram (the shrine in Mecca). The Qur’an records the change in qibla, and refers those who object to such change as “the fools”; here is the Quranic text: 

“The fools among the people will say: “What hath turned them from the Qibla to which they were used?” Say: To Allah belong both east and West: Allah guides whom Allah wills to a Way that is straight” (Quran 2:142)

To be sure, Salem is a moderate. He asks for patience is golden. He believes 

there will rise a group of Muslim and Jewish scholars (Imams and Rabbis) who will agree on how and when the Jews are to pray in peace on the Temple Mount. Jews have waited two millennium for such an honor, no harm will befall the Jewish people if they reach out to Muslim scholars and wait a little.

Salem is a Yale University alumnus and holds a PhD from the Al Azhar University in Cairo. 

Unfortunately, those Muslims who possess control thinking quite differently and for Jews, no rights on and within the Temple Mount nor to discover what is under.

At least we now know that Muslims, according to their own religious texts, should allow Jews to at least visit without interference or harrassment.

^

From A Locked Gate to a Synagogue at the Temple Mount

Yesterday's events are reverberating.

After a Muslim pray-in at the Golden Gate along the eastern wall of the Temple Mount compound, towards the north, last Thursday, the police locked the entrance gate at the top of the stairs.

Credit

Yesterday, Muslims tried to break in and there was pushing and shoving.  Here's extract from Wafa's account:

Israeli police broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City this afternoon after closing all gates leading to it and arrested individuals inside the compound after people removed chains and gates the police had earlier placed at the Golden Gate building in the compound.to prevent its use, according to witnesses.

They said a number of Palestinians removed the metal gates and chains the police had on Sunday placed at the stairs leading to the building adjacent to the closed Golden Gate, also known as Bab al-Rahmeh, considered a property of Al-Aqsa Mosque, following calls for holding the Muslim prayers at the building in defiance of the Israeli police decision.

Immediately after this, police closed all gates leading to the Muslim holy compound as its forces carried out arrests among those present inside it while forcing the Muslim worshippers to leave it.

There's a video clip here.

Here's the reaction of Mahmoud Abbas

The Palestinian presidency strongly condemned the Israeli closure of the Golden Gate (Bab al-Rahmeh) with locks and chains, warning against Israeli plans aimed at imposing the temporal and spatial division of the mosque.

He is demanding that Israel preserve "the mosque’s status quo of 1967".

Jordan:

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the Israeli police closure of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and the assaults on worshipers.

The ministry's official spokesman, Sufian al-Qudah, demanded that Israel, as the occupying power, "act in accordance with international law and immediately reopen the gates, respect the sanctity of the holy place, not hamper the entry of worshipers, withdraw security forces at the holy compound and respect the feelings of Muslims," according to Jordan news agency, Petra.

The spokesperson slammed the Israeli measures at al-Aqsa as "a flagrant violation of the historical and legal status quo and Israel's obligations under the international law and the international humanitarian law, as the occupying power, and held it fully responsible for the safety of the mosque."

(UPDATE: On the Jordan/PA coordination now)

Here is the Golden Gate or Mercy Gate (Sha'ar HaRachamim) in green

Another Wafa report raises a suspicion:

Officials have expressed concern that Israel may allow Jews to hold prayers in the Golden Gate area and possibly build a Jewish temple there after separating it from the rest of Al-Aqsa compound.

It would be a wonderful site for a synagogue.  In fact, it is a two-halled structure that would easily divide, and equally so, for a men's and women's section each. It is also located way below the level of most of the Temple Mount esplanade as can be seen in the first picture above.

The blue area I marked in the photo above is where this structure is:

Seems to be a storeroom. Not a religious building.

That would fine for a temporary synagogue. It's quite near the Children of Israel Gate, off on the side, would not interfere with Muslims.

Five years ago, I suggested a site right next to the Hallel Gate (formerly Mughrabi Gate).

The Waqf has added at least two new mosques since 1967 (and are working on a third) so actually, there is no status quo regarding buildings and construction.  A small synagogue, quite unobtrusive, is feasible and would fulfill the terms of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty's Article 9:

Each party will provide freedom of access to places of religious and historical significance...The Parties will act together to promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions, with the aim of working towards religious understanding, moral commitment, freedom of religious worship, and tolerance and peace.

For My House is a house of prayer for all peoples (Isaiah 56:7).

And that should include Jews.


P.S.  For a Hebrew-language background, see here.

________________

UPDATE: Israel seems to have capitulated.  

Gate removed altogether.

Report.

Another report.


^ 

What's With the Waqf?

Being reported there's a crisis between the Jordanian Endowments [Waqf] and the Jerusalem Endowments [Waqf] Department ... and threats of separation?

the Jordanian Awqaf sent a delegation to occupied Jerusalem to cancel the contracts of all employees and the work of new contracts...the staff rejected the wording of the new contracts being unfair to them, while the Waqf as represented by its director in Jerusalem, Azzam al-Khatib, said anyone who refuses to sign will be dismissed

Seems the employees view their role as on of "protecting Al-Aqsa Mosque and confronting the settlers".

In addition to duration of their work contracts and other items, there is a demand regarding a  deduction for Jordanian health insurance, which they do not benefit by forcing Jerusalemites to the Israeli health insurance, and turn it into an optional item for those who wanted them.

The Jerusalem Waqf responded saying,

"We consider ourselves the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which has always sponsored Islamic institutions and trusteeship in the city of Jerusalem and caring staff and workers in the endowments of Jerusalem in various means of support and improve the functional and living conditions for them, which the most recent of which was the issuance of a Royal Decree to improve the salaries of employees and to grant a financial reward of one month's salary for each year of service. "

A meeting was held in the office of the Director General of the Jerusalem Waqf on October 15th in the presence of the Assistant Director General of the Jerusalem Endowments, the Finance Manager and the Director of Human Resources.

So, is the tension financial, religious or political?

(H/T=RRR)

^

I Am Temple Mount Confused

On August 25, this news item appeared (and via Google Translate):-

Jerusalem is warning Israel after an Israeli court ordered Jews to pray at al-Aqsa

The story:

The Islamic Waqf (Islamic Endowments) Department in Jerusalem on Saturday warned Israel against taking any decision that would harm the Islam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by allowing non-Muslims to pray there.

Wow. How destructive can pray be?

A lot less than emptying out the southern section and dumping archaeological and historical remains, I would suggest.

The ministry said in a statement that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the 144-acre Haram al-Sharif Mosque and all the roads leading to it, an Islamic mosque and an authentic part of the faith of all Muslims.

But why exclusive? Is not Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs shared?

The Department of Awqaf said that this statement comes after the various media outlets yesterday reported that the Israeli High Court demanded that the Israeli police and other government bodies provide reasons behind the continued prevention of Jewish extremists from breaking into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the performance of the prayers there.
In its statement, the Supreme Court of Israel, the highest judicial body in the government of Israel, granted 60 days to respond to the reasons for preventing Jewish extremists from performing Talmudic prayers in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
...Israel allows non-Muslims to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque at specific times without praying there.
According to a statement issued by the Awqaf Department, Al-Aqsa Mosque will not be subject to any laws of the land, and the Israeli court has no jurisdiction over the mosque.
Al-Aqsa Mosque squares witnessed clashes between worshipers and Israeli police during the last period, which led to the closure of the gates of the mosque, forcing the worshipers to pray on its gates before being reopened later.

Clashes? Or attacks by Waqf guards and other Muslims on innocent Jews and non-Jews?

Am I confused or is the Waqf trying to confuse us all?

_______________

P.S.

Now the answer was published:

In a speech before the PLO Executive Committee in Ramallah on September 15, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas repeated the old libel that Israel was planning to establish special Jewish prayer zones inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Abbas claimed that Israel was seeking to copy the example of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, where Jews and Muslims pray in different sections.

Abbas did not say what his lie was based on. He also did not provide any evidence of Israel's ostensible plot against the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said, nevertheless, that the Palestinians, together with Jordan, were planning to bring this issue before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Abbas's allegation was quickly picked up by several media outlets in the Arab world, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The headlines that appeared on websites affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second largest terrorist group in the Gaza Strip, claimed that Israel is planning to permit Jews to pray inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Needless to say, there is no Israeli plan to allow Jews to pray inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, in the past few years Jews, like all other non-Muslims, have been allowed to resume their perfectly legal visits to the Temple Mount. Thousands of Jews have toured the holy site under police protection, despite provocations and violent attacks by Muslims. It is worth noting that any kind of prayer of "religious displays" by Jews or Christians anywhere on the Temple Mount are completely forbidden by the Israel Police.

Why is Abbas's false accusation significant and dangerous? Hours after reports were published of Abbas's allegation, a 17-year-old Palestinian from the town of Yatta in the southern West Bank fatally stabbed Ari Fuld, a 45-year-old Israeli-American citizen and father of four, in a shopping center in Gush Etzion, south of Bethlehem.

According to Palestinian terrorist groups, the terrorist, Khalil Jabarin, decided to murder a Jew in response to Israeli "crimes" against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular and Islamic holy sites in general.

^

What the Grand Mufti's Successor Told Prince William (And What Saudi Arabia & Jordan Told Israel)

As reported (in Arabic) at Arab21:

Akrama Sabri reveals to Arabi 21 details of his conversation with Prince William

The head of the Supreme Islamic Committee in the occupied city of Jerusalem and the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, revealed the details of what took place between him and Prince William Duke of Cambridge during a visit last Thursday to the Al-Aqsa Mosque about a week ago.

"Jerusalem belongs to Muslims and Christians, a Palestinian city occupied by the Israeli occupation that is trying to Judaize it, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque belongs to Muslims alone and has nothing to do with the Jews," Sheikh Sabri said.

Sabri told "Arab21" that he had addressed William so: "Britain has historically harmed the Palestinians, and this damage still exists. Britain must remove this damage, because the Balfour Declaration was a disaster for the Palestinians."

On the response of the British Prince to this talk, Khatib al-Aqsa said that the prince "listened, and stressed that Britain's foreign policy is still considered the city of Jerusalem occupied, and did not agree to the American decision on the occupied city of Jerusalem," when US President Donald Trump acknowledged Jerusalem "the capital of Israel," he said.

That theme, of "Judaization", is expressed in an analysis provided by an expert on sites of sanctity, Dr. Najih Bkirat, whose title is Director of Religious Education in Jerusalem, when he elucidated on the "three dimensions behind the daily incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque" in Al-Watan's July 2 issue. 

Claiming that about 16 thousand settlers had "stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque" since the beginning of this year until the beginning of June, and expecting more during the next six months, "especially with the exploitation of Jewish holidays, as well as the so-called 'destruction of the alleged temple'", he said in a press statement: 

"We are facing a phenomenon that has beyond it and that the war of intrusions launched on the Aqsa Mosque can be read in three dimensions. First, removing holiness from all Islamic manifestations and Arab buildings, to replace the "alleged structure" Islamic and remove the place [Al-Aqsa]".

"The second dimension of the incursions, is the process of  'Jewish settlement, a settlement of human worshipers and worshipers and the people of the mosque, "by increasing the number of settlers, which provides them with special rules to guard them and welcome them to encourage them to break into the daily.

...the third dimension, which is the most dangerous, is the conflict over sovereignty and administration, meaning that "despite the presence of Arab tutelage [that is, Jordan's custodianship] and management of the Haram with the presence of more than 500 employees inside and outside the sacred compound, there are attempts to take sovereignty not only outside the gates, but to move to the stage of managing the place, under the pretext of taking care of the intruders, which will entail interference in the administration of endowments and the management of guards, in addition to many other departments.

What also irks them is activity at the Bab al-Rahma [the Golden Gate] Cemetery - the setting of an iron wall south of the cemetery on an endowment land tract overseeing al-Husaini Hill.

For those who follow me, this language of storming, Judaization, taking-over, et al. is almost as incendiary as Hamas kites.

In the meantime, Haaretz reports:

Jordan, Saudis and Palestinians Warn Israel: Erdogan Operating in East Jerusalem Under Your Nose; Israel is 'sleeping at the wheel,' they caution

And Israel Hayom has it so:

In bid to buy influence, Turkey hands out money in east Jerusalem

Turkey wants a foothold.  It is suggested to cut that short.

And Amit Segal on Channel 10 TV just now, as I am writing, informs us that MKs will be allowed to ascend the Temple Mount.  Confirmation: once-every-three-months.

I am guessing if Jordan keeps quiet, Netanyahu will bump Turkey out of Jerusalem entirely, including sponsoring Temple Mount interference.

^

Now, We're "Strangling"

Straight from the March 22 edition of News From Ramallah (and at Wafa here, but less the 'strangling' or 'choking' or 'suffocated'= يخنق ):

The Council of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the occupied city of Jerusalem warned of the preparations being made by the Israeli occupation authorities [note: the event has nothing to do with "officila Israel"]  to hold the festival "Training the Passover Sacrifices" with the participation of senior rabbis of the temple and singers and TV channels in the Umayyad palaces adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque on its southern side.

The festival, announced by the Temple Mount organization, will be held on on Monday, while preparations will begin on Sunday.

The Council noted in a statement that the occupation, for half a century, has strangled the Al-Aqsa Mosque with Judaic projects [wow], claiming to be urban and cultural projects, exploiting the Jewish holiday season, excavations and daily incursions. To the Talmudic gardens and temples of the temple, and today seeks to this dangerous festival.

It stressed that "the Umayyad palaces and all that surrounds Al-Aqsa Mosque is an integral part of the Islamic Waqf, which is a pure right of Muslims, and no one has the right to attack or change its function."

The statement said that "this act of intimidation is a violation of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a step of the Judaization will not be silent on them, which is rejected and denied, because silence on them will give extremist groups the green light to crawl inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

He warned the Awqaf Council to take such a step, which provoked the feelings of Muslims, and may lead to things that do not praise the punishment [? terror?]

By the way, since September, over 12,000 Jews who observed strict purity restrictions ascended to the Temple Mount.  Among them a group of 50 Rabbis.

Here's the poster for the exercise of the Paschal Sacrifice:

Monday, March 26, near Davidson Center, starting at five-thirty o'clock and preceded by an ascent at 1:30,  walk around the compound on the outside passing the gates at 3:00 and at 4:30 tours at the Davidson Center.

^

Ahmad Tibi Misrepresentation

I have read that Ahmad Tibib, MK, has said this at a conference entitled "Jerusalem: Legalising the Occupation" held in London last week:

"Christians are praying in their church, Muslims in their mosque and Jews in synagogue.  But not inside the Mosque – the Al Aqsa Mosque! This is the most provocative thing for Palestinians and Muslims and even for Christians in Jerusalem! ….. Israel shot Palestinians in the Al Aqsa Mosque”

As Jonathan H. correctly points out, those Arabs shot included those who murdered two Israeli policemen, rioters who stoned police and fired roman candles at them as well as tossing stones over the wall into the Western Wall Plaza below endangering lives.

But more importantly, he is pushing a trick.

Is the whole compound a mosque?  Even those buildings and open-air gardens and orchards?

And let us not forget the other trick of the 2013 PA-Jordan Agreement, artificially extending the area of the holy site outside its boundaries:

C. Recalling the unique religious importance, to all Muslims, of Al Masjid Al-Aqsa with its 144 dunums, which include the Qibli Mosque of Al Aqsa, the Mosque of the Dome of the Rock and all its mosques, buildings, walls, courtyards, attached areas over and beneath the ground and the Waqf properties tied-up to Al Masjid Al Aqsa, to its environs or to its pilgrims (hereinafter referred to as "Al Haram Al Sharif");

Watch out for tricks.

^ 

The Waqf Getting Ramped-Up

This is the letter the Waqf issued on December 3 after Jews identified as Temple Mount activists ascended the raised platform area, which hundreds of tourists do daily.

Here they are:

Translation via Google:

A statement issued by the Council of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, Islamic Supreme Council and the Palestinian Fatwa House and the Jerusalem endowment circle

Threat and a dangerous escalation in the Al-Aqsa Mosque

This morning, Sunday, 3/12/2017, a group of Jewish extremists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by a large number of Israeli police officers who accompanied them and changed the course of the traditional extremists in the squares of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Temple Mount, And in the wake of the American incentive to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of the Umayyad embassy. Ownership of Jerusalem.

In light of this, we emphasize the following:

[1] Despite the position of Jerusalemites and the Palestinian and Islamic rejection of these intrusions, and despite the religious fatwas of Israel that prevent them from storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the fatwas prevent them from ascending to the Dome of the Rock, but they crossed all red lines and want to change the historical and legal reality in the Al- Holy Mosque.

[2] The attempt to impose a new reality by force and bullying, and an attempt to weaken the role of Islamic Waqfs and guards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is completely unacceptable and the occupation authorities bear the consequences of this if they continue this approach.

[3] From the heart of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we call upon all living conscience to stop this systematic Israeli propaganda against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which targets people and stone in Al-Aqsa Mosque to protect it and protect it from ever increasing dangers.

* And God prevailed over his command, but most people do not know *

Islamic Endowments Department Islamic Dar Al Ifta Islamic Supreme Council Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites
Al-Quds Al-Sharif in the first 15 of 2439 AH
Corresponding to 03/12/2017

^

Jordanian Waqf in Jerusalem - Its Report

Jordan administers the Temple Mount.

Here's the heading of its official stationary

from the first page 

of its new report on the

destruction and tampering with Al-Aqsa Mosque

Some of the highlights (thanks to Google Translate)

Israeli violations during the period of the closure of Al Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif by an unjust Israeli government decision on Friday, July 14, 2017 and was followed by a series of arbitrary security and provocative measures that led to the prevention of the guards and employees of the Jerusalem Waqf from entering Al Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount for 14 days during which the police and occupation authorities vandalized in most of the chapels and facilities of Al Aqsa Mosque.

Preliminary results:...the destruction of most of the locks and closets closed in Al-Aqsa Mosque and tampering with the contents, and open computers, To access their systems and make use of the information in them. Although all the committees that have been charged have confirmed that all the assets have not lost anything, whether they are manuscripts or holdings, records or files, where no record of any of them despite the scattered and tampering with them...

¨The occupation authorities and their military and technical devices planted iron screws in multiple parts in the walls of the Dome of the Rock, and these iron screws are believed to be monitoring devices and photography.

Explorations were carried out in various parts of the Dome of the Rock, including removing a tile from inside the cave, then attempting to return it, taking a sample of the rock in two places, and spraying a white material on certain parts of the rock, indicating that the closure was not as security as planned...Tampered with carpets and the opening of electricity fountains and tampering with them.(B) The tribal chapel:The occupation authorities installed screws on the wooden writing boards in the 40th place. A fragment of a marble piece was also seen above the door and in the lower corner of the painting...The carpets were removed, the door was broken and the stone cover of the channels was broken.All the minarets in Al-Aqsa Mosque and Omar Mosque were opened and tampering with them.

¨ The occupation authorities broke the locks of the wells in the old Al Aqsa and discovered that they had conducted excavations of the old stone in many areas of the well, and some of the stones of the walls were noted for cracking. This was repeated in the upper area located on the eastern side of Omar Mosque.  Various stones were removed and rebuilt in the southern façade...

¨ The occupation authorities broke down and opened all the electricity cabinets and tampering with several reconstruction committee and opened a stone slab of water channel covers on the surface of Marwani. ¨ In the cradle of Issa was removed part of the marble terrace of the Nativity as well as the effects of digging beside the Nativity.

¨ The occupation authorities carried out a hole in the upper part of the door on the eastern side of the wall.

The occupation authorities removed an ancient stone plaque on the roofs of the Dome of the Rock from the south, and tried to return and carried out many explorations in the bases of Albuayak, and confiscated some of the chemicals used in the laboratory manuscripts and school laboratories and the confiscation of electronic bags students.

¨ The occupation authorities messed in the ear [amplification? broadcasting?] room and the alarm and communications room, where he lost some electronic pieces, which are accurate and expensive and stolen a video camera and tampering with the computers of the audio room.

But the plan to affix surveillance cameras inside the compound, as initiated and suggested by King Abdallah and agreed upon by Israel and the United States, has not been implemented.

^ 

Trouble in...Endowment Land

Do we have a new problem in Jerusalem?

This time between Muslims and...Christians?

See what was reported in the final paragraph below:

Abqirat: No changes to the Endowments Department     The diversion of Christian endowments is a diversion to the maximum [the Haram al-Sheikh]      2017-10-29

Sheikh Najah Abkirat Head of Manuscripts and Heritage Section at Al-Aqsa Mosque denied that there were any amendments or additions in connection with the Islamic Waqf Department in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.


Abekirat said in a statement to "Dunia al-Watan": "This subject has no basis, there are no cancellations or changes in the Department of Endowments since a long time so far, and everything published is pure lies."

He added: "The whole story is the transfer of one employee, Sheikh Raed Daana in the matter of the standing in the preaching and guidance in front of a mosque."

In this context, he cleared the earlier news about the removal of the director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, stripped of his powers and turned it into the mosque, saying that this is a slanderous speech.

He pointed out that the aim of these rumors is to weaken the circle of Palestinian Waqf in the Al-Aqsa Mosque at a time when the state of occupation to raise issues on the Palestinian Waqf, especially the issue of Bab al-Rahma, stressing at the same time that there is an intention by the occupation to weaken the Department of Awqaf until it comes Israeli religious

Regarding the sale or slippages in Jerusalem and the Holy City, Abekirat said: "The diversion of any centimeter from the Christian endowments is a diversion to the roofs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Commentary: The Muslims would like the Christians to adopt their form of waqf system, of endowing or rather dedicating property for a sacred purpose to prevent its sale.

See here.  And here.

^ 

He's Inciting, Lying and He's A Minister

He's trying to start a riot.

From this report (via Google Translate):

Palestinian minister: Israeli occupation seeks to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque
Wednesday, 23 / November / 2016 - 20:10 
Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs of the Palestinian Adeis Yusuf, said the situation in the holy city and the Aqsa Mosque has reached an extremely dangerous level, given the lapse of the Israeli occupation authorities in their practices against racism and the Judaization of the mosque and the city.

Adeis in an exclusive statement to the UAE site 24 said that the Israeli government is trying to undermine the Al-Aqsa Mosque and implement a spatial partitioning scheme and then destroy it, to establish on its ruins the alleged structure [i.e. the Third Temple], stressing that Israel is seeking to impose a fait accompli policy.

Adeis explained that the Israeli occupation of racist practices designed to blur the historical Arab and Islamic presence in Jerusalem, in preparation for implementation of all settlement plans and colonial against Jerusalem.

He pointed out that the Palestinian leadership took the file to the international community and the Security Council, and moving toward the cessation of Israeli practices and punish the crimes of the Israeli occupation in the holy city, noting that the Palestinian move alone is not enough to rein in Israel and stop the repeated crimes.

Maybe this response?

 ^

The UN Develops and Supports Jordanian Lies

This Arab-language news report informs us that there was a two-day "religious diversity" conference, which was launched in Amman, Jordan on Tuesday, organized by the United Nations Development Programme and the Centre for King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz for Global Dialogue (KAICIID) and attended by Muslim and Christian religious experts and media professionals from 25 Middle Eastern countries, and with the participation of more than 100 persons.

No Jews?

Jordan's Waqf Minister Wael Arabiyat said there that

"UNESCO's recent decision on Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque confirmed the right of Arabs and Muslims to the entire Sanctuary of 144 dunams."

He added that "this compound is not only just a mosque but that it has no relation historically to the 'holy city' of the Jews," and stressed "the right of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in the exercise of its control and the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Jordan's Minister of the Waqf explained that the UNESCO decision "confirms that Jordan has many options in this aspect can be practiced what he can from the protection and guardianship of Jerusalem and Islamic holy sites."

Oddly enough, he also said this in complete contradiction:

pluralism is a universal norm and that humans cannot live alone. To survive, humans need material wealth, spiritual welfare and security...these factors are the basis for positive dialogue...the civil state has existed since the beginning of Islam, citing Medina as an example of accepting the different components of society regardless of religion, race or colour.

Diversity?

Pluralism?

Spiritual welfare?

Positive dialogue?

Different components of society?

What BS. What lies.  And under the auspices of the United Nations.

^

Would The Pals. Call This 'Extrajudicial Murder'? And The Temple Mount Connection

This

A Jordanian policeman on Monday killed four contractors working with the Public Security Department, two US, one Jordanian and one South African nationals, before he was killed - ...PSD personnel dealt with the incident, which took place at a police training facility in eastern Amman, and killed the attacker, 

What do you say?

And a second question, if I'm on the subject:

If Israel relinquishes any security element, including cameras inside the two mosques on the Temple Mount, a demand Jordan's king now makes, will events like this also happen, with Jewish casualties?


^ 

The Battles of the Cameras Has Started

Seems the Waqf with Jordanian authorization tried to set up by itself a surveillance camera and Israel removed it, here:

That probably explains this

Statement by the Prime Minister's Office: The Instalation of Cameras on the Temple Mount    (Monday, 26 Oct 2015) Final arrangements for the manner and location of the cameras on the Temple Mount, which was agreed upon between Israel, Jordan and the United States, were intended to be coordinated by the professional elements.  US Secretary of State John Kerry said this at a press conference on Saturday with the Foreign Minister of Jordan: "I expect Jordanian and Israeli technical teams will meet soon to discuss the implementation of this idea." (the installation of cameras). The cameras will be installed according to the arrangements to be determined between the parties. Israel has already expressed its consent to start the process as soon as possible.

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UPDATE

New Dispute Over Jerusalem Religious Shrine
Installation of surveillance cameras in mosque blocked after Israel isn’t consulted, Israeli police say Israeli police blocked the installation of surveillance cameras inside a sensitive mosque in Jerusalem on Monday...Representatives of the Jordanian Waqf, or Islamic trust, that administers Al Aqsa Mosque in consultation with Israel were stopped from setting up the cameras because they hadn’t communicated their plans before entering the site, Israeli police said.

“It wasn’t coordinated with us,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. “You can’t just put up cameras.”

Azzam al-Khatib, the trust’s director, said installation of the surveillance cameras began after orders from Jordanian officials. “When we were stopped by the Israelis from installing the cameras, we immediately notified the Jordanian authorities,” he said.

and this now

On Monday, Israeli police blocked the installation of surveillance cameras inside a sensitive mosque in Jerusalem, fanning new tensions amid a month long escalation of violence.  Representatives of the Jordanian Waqf, or Islamic trust, that administers Al Aqsa Mosque in consultation with Israel were stopped from setting up the cameras because they hadn’t communicated their plans before entering the site, Israeli police said.

as well as this

Speaking to WAFA, Sheikh ‘Azzam al-Tamimi, Head of the Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem, said the Israeli police removed all Waqf-installed surveillance cameras in the vicinity of al-Maghariba (Moroccan) Gate leading to the Mosque’s yards.

Al-Tamimi claimed that by removing the surveillance cameras, Israel is attempting to “distort the truth”.

The Waqf Department vehemently condemned in a press release “Israeli police’s interference with the Waqf’s work” and said such interference indicates that Israel is interested in the installation of surveillance cameras, not for the purpose of providing evidence for truth and justice, but to serve their own interests.

P.S.

Here, in Hebrew, you can see at the beginning the cameras wither going up or probably down and also hear Depty Foreign Minister Tzippy Hotobeli say, as a personal opinion, that she would like to see the Israel flag unfurled at the Temple Mount for after all, the Hamas and ISIL banners have been waved there.

And here is Netanyahu's reaction:

The Prime Minister's Office this evening, made the following statement:
The policy of the Government of Israel regarding the Temple Mount was expressed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his statement night, and nothing has changed. Prime Minister Netanyahu made ​​it clear that he expects all members of the Government to act accordingly. 

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BACKGROUND UPDATE

Substantial progress in the U.S. efforts came at the Kerry-Netanyahu Berlin meeting, where Netanyahu surprised Kerry, telling him that in the past the Jordanians had proposed to Israel that cameras be installed on the Temple Mount to ensure that no damage was being done to the mosques, and no violations of the status quo.

Netanyahu told Kerry that he liked the idea and urged that it be pursued. The Israeli leader suggested that after the secretary’s meeting in Amman with King Abdullah, Kerry would announce Israel’s agreement, and credit would go to the king for the idea.

In the near future, teams from the Israel Police and the Waqf will meet to coordinate the issue of the installation of the cameras on the mount and to discuss reinforcing security arrangement to head off the entry of provocateurs from either side at the site.

Kerry was very satisfied with the idea of installing the cameras and from his conversation with Netanyahu. At a press conference that followed a short time later in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he expressed cautious optimism...The only subject on which Netanyahu made promises was a commitment at this point to bar visits by Israeli cabinet and Knesset members to the mount.The senior American officials noted that Kerry did not raise such a demand. Netanyahu, they said, understood himself the extent to which visits by politicians such as Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Uri Ariel have been damaging and provocative.

Netanyahu himself made reference to that on Monday before the Knesset committee. "I am not comfortable preventing my colleagues, cabinet ministers and Knesset members, from going onto the Temple Mount," he said, "but the price of a violation could be that we would all enter a major whirlwind and I am not prepared for that."

What goes up

will come down

^