Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Israel 'to open up Al Aqsa to Jews' |
|---|
| BroHanif |
| 01/23/02 at 18:36:37 |
| PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, 23 January 2002, 15:49 GMT Israel 'to open up Al Aqsa to Jews' Israel is planning to reopen to non-Muslims the most sensitive religious area in Jerusalem, the Al Aqsa Haram al-Sharif, which Jews call temple Mount the BBC has been told. Israeli Internal security ministry spokesman Nati Goldfinger said that the site could be reopened to Jews and other religious groups some time in the next two weeks. This is no doubt a deliberate ploy by Sharon to insult and demoralise the Muslims. No doubt any resistance by Palestinians to avoid the desecration of their Holy place will be met by brutal Israeli force. An ideal opportunity to further Judaise Jerusalem and continue the haemorrhaging of Palestinians. Friends of Al Aqsa calls upon the international community to urgently apply all available pressure and stop Sharon from implementing plans that are designed for spilling more Palestinian blood and justify Israeli oppression. |
| Re: Israel 'to open up Al Aqsa to Jews' |
|---|
| BroHanif |
| 01/23/02 at 18:39:28 |
| http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1778000/1778047.stm --------------------------------------------------------------------- Israel 'to open up Temple Mount' Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount caused outrage Israel is planning to reopen to non-Muslims the most sensitive religious area in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif, the BBC has been told. Israeli Internal security ministry spokesman Nati Goldfinger said that the site could be reopened to Jews and other religious groups some time in the next two weeks. You might see this as part of Mr Sharon's panoply of pressures that he is applying to the Palestinian leadership Commentator David Landau Only Muslims have been allowed to visit the site since the Palestinian uprising started 16 months ago. Palestinians blame a visit there by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, for provoking the conflict in September 2000. The site is sacred to both religions. To Muslims, it is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven and is home to the al-Aqsa mosque. Courting right-wingers To Jews, it is where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son and where Judaism's first and second temples once stood. There have been warnings that reopening the site to non-Muslims could bring new violence and some Israeli commentators are sceptical that the government will go through with its plan. David Landau, of the Israeli liberal daily newspaper Ha'aretz, told the BBC that with feelings already running high it seemed "a crazy idea" and he believed the threat could simply be posturing by the Israelis. "The Israeli Government has a strong rightist religious component which the prime minister needs to pander to," he said. "Even though he is perhaps not all that enthusiastic about running the risk of yet more bloodbaths on Temple Mount, he is at least purporting to be in favour of this and thereby courting his right-wing. "The spokesman said that it is going to happen in two weeks but two weeks is a very long time in Israel, certainly in Jerusalem, and I would put no money at all on it taking place." Mr Landau said that many on the nationalist right felt that the longer the site stayed closed to non-Muslims, the harder it would be to re-open it. Debate delayed He added: "You might see this as part of Mr Sharon's panoply of pressures that he is applying to the Palestinian leadership." It is reported that Israeli Public Security Minister Uzi Landau asked the cabinet several weeks ago to consider allowing Jews to resume visits to the Temple Mount. But the debate had been delayed by a surge of violence. Government spokesman Avi Pazner said: "There is a principle which says Jews have the right to visit the Temple Mount. "We have maintained that there is an absolute right on this... The intention is only to restore the status quo." The visit by Mr Sharon - who was the leader of what was then the right-wing Likud opposition party - incensed Muslims. Fights broke out during his visit and there were clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians the next day. The Islamic Waqf, the religious trust which administers the site, later decided to bar non-Muslim visitors. But Israeli police have occasionally entered the area for security reasons. Waqf director Adnan Husseini said that Jews could only enter the Mount with Waqf permission and suggested there should be no change while the current violence continues |
Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.The rest © Jannah.Org |