If there are no Jews in Hebron, no Jews will pray at the Machpeila cave
From 1929-67, Jews were barred from praying in the Machpeila Cave, because the Arabs controlled Hebron and the Jews had been expelled by the British Mandate. Since 1967, Israel has controlled Hebron and the Machpeila Cave and has guaranteed access to all. On a certain number of days of the year, the Cave is given over exclusively to Jews or exclusively to Muslims. Some of the Intermediate Days (Chol HaMoed) of Passover are included among the days on which Jews only are permitted in the Cave.As part of the so-called 'peace process,' the Arabs wish to regain control of Hebron and the Cave. What would happen if that happened? Would Jews be allowed to pray in the Machpeila Cave? Consider how the 'Palestinian' media reports on the "Jewish only" days at the Machpeila Cave:
Zeid Al-Jabari,the director of Al-Khalil Waqf, said that the Israeli occupation forces informed the Waqf department of its intention to close the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshipers this morning and tomorrow and opened all its corridors and courtyards to Israeli settlers to enable their celebration of the Passover.If God forbid the Arabs had control of the Cave, does anyone really believe that Jews would be granted access at all?
Jabari stated that the occupation's decision "actually has begun since Saturday evening, where they prevented Muslims from performing the dawn prayer". This ban will continue until Monday evening, which means the Muslims will be banned from performing ten prayers in the Mosque.
Jabari added that during these two days the Mosque will be desecrated by the settlers, corrupting everything in the Mosque and causing a real damage. He pointed out that The IOA closes down the Ibrahimi Mosque before Muslims for ten days per year in accordance to the so-called Shamgar Commission that divided the Mosque and allowed Jews to access it, the commission was formed after the massacre at the Mosque in 1994 in which an armed Jewish settler killed 29 Palestinians while praying.
Jabari condemned the Israeli government’s arrogant measures and closure of the mosque, affirming that the Ibrahimi Mosque is only for Muslims and it will be forever.
More from Aaron Lerner here.
Those who want to remove the Jewish civilian presence in Hebron have to have the intellectual honesty to admit that what they are really saying is that retreating from Hebron is more important to them than preserving the right for Jews to pray there.Indeed. Look at Jewish access to Joseph's tomb in Shchem and to the Shalom al-Yisrael synagogue in Jericho. It's almost non-existent.
If they want to argue this position that's their business.
But they have to be honest about it.
Just as they have to be honest that schemes for insuring Jewish access to holy places in Jerusalem under non-Israeli control are more wishful thinking than reality.
Again. They can advocate hard choices. But they have to admit just how hard they really are.
Labels: 1929 Hebron massacre, Hebron, Machpeila cave, Pesach
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:29 PM
2 Comments:
Some of this is incorrect.
Jews were not allowed to pray in Me'arath HaMakhpelàh for 700 years, from 1267 V.E. to 1967 V.E.
In fact, until Rehavam Zeevi gave the order to blow-up the constructions around the Ma'arà, there were steps outside on the right corner, and Jews FOR CENTURIES had been allowed only to reach the seventh step.
Very few exceptions were granted to the Islamic rule forbidding entrance to Jews for 700 years.
One was granted to RaMba"M (Maimonides), who was also Salah Al Dhin's personal doctor.
Then, what the picture's caption calls "the great mosque of Hebron" and says "the prophet Abraham" is an Islamic definition, less false than it would be saying that the Cave of The Patriarchs is a church...since there was a Bizantine Church built in the premises in the III Cent., WAY BEFORE ISLAM, whose roof and walls are still there.
Yet, the FACT remains that the structure is a Herodian structure, built with the SAME STONES CUT THE SAME WAY as those used for the Western Wall supporting the Temple Mount, which was built at the same time and by the same architects.
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