Israel Matzav

Arabs constructing fake graves on eastern side of Temple Mount

You will all recall that last month, some 300 fake graves were discovered in the Mamilla area and destroyed. Now, the 'Palestinians' are trying to do the same thing, this time outside the eastern wall of the Temple Mount.

Maya Shukri of the El Har HaMoriyah Institute, who documented the faked graves with her camera, told Arutz7 on Wednesday that at the present time, the graves are empty but an infrastructure is in place for future burials. Shukri, who compared older photographs to photographs taken recently, said that “there are markings [of graves] there, but underneath there is only soil. Some of them don’t have a tombstone.”

About a year ago, Israel’s High Court responded to an appeal which was brought forth and ruled that no burial would be allowed to take place on these grounds, and in fact, ruled that the area is to be transformed into a national park. The decision meant that the area would be cleaned, benches will be placed, and proper lighting installed.

Shukri said, however, described a reality that is far from what was ruled by the Court. “A year has passed and nothing has been done,” she said. “The police promised to provide any required assistance to turn the place into a national park, but what is happening today is that the police are preventing Jews from passing through the place.”

All the while, Arabs are continuing to place tombstones and concrete blocks in preparation for future burials on the site.

Shukri pointed out the historical value of the area which once held a a bridge that connected the Holy Temple and the Mount of Olives. In the Holy Temple periods, the High Priest would pass through this bridge on his way to slaughter the para aduma, the red heifer whose ashes were used in purity laws. Shukri said that by preventing free access to Jews to the area and by allowing it to be covered by illegal empty graves, the site’s unique Jewish history will be obliterated. The High Court recognized this, but the follow up to its ruling never occurred. Instead, Arab encroachers took over.

The gate at the top is Shaar HaRachamim - the Gate of Mercy - and it is located on the eastern side of the Temple Mount. You will note that the gate is closed, and you may even see that there are graves outside it. The Messiah is supposed to enter Jerusalem through that gate. The Muslims sealed the gate and placed graves outside it to prevent Elijah the Prophet, who will accompany the Messiah - speedily and in our time God willing - from entering the city. This is because Elijah is a Cohen (priest) and is not allowed to become ritually impure by being in contact with, or hovering over, dead bodies. Of course, that only applies to Jewish dead bodies, but don't tell them that....

Now, they are attempting to expand the cemetery that is already there to make more areas inaccessible. This too shall be stopped.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:11 PM