So much for that Israeli-Saudi alliance
[Saudi Arabia's highest religious council, the Majlis al-Ifta’ al-A’ala] condemned what it said were "Israeli attempts to split the Al Aqsa Mosque" by implementing alternate prayer arrangements for Jewish and Muslim worshippers, as well as by establishing a fixed area for Jewish worship.
In an announcement issued on November 30th, the council alleged that "the occupation authorities [i.e. Israel] are trying to create a Jerusalem 2.0", and went on to claim that the Israeli government is trying to "complete the construction of a museum at the foot of the Al Aqsa Mosque". That latter allegation echoes claims by Palestinian Authority media that the Israeli government plans to build a large complex - complete with a "Jewish museum" - near the Mughrabi Gate.
Israel has not officially responded to the claims, according to Israel’s Channel 2 News, but similar claims have been made in the past by Muslim extremists to encourage riots and other violence against Israeli police and Jewish worshippers.
The council continued by alleging that the ultimate aim of the Israeli government was "to facilitate a breakthrough at the holy Al Aqsa Mosque and to defile it in an intensive way through the settlers [referring to Jewish worshippers - ed.], and by providing them with security".
It further warned that "the offensive activity against the holy Palestinian [sic] sites, and first and foremost the holy Al Aqsa Mosque, will turn the region into a ticking time bomb and trigger an imminent religious war", and declared that "the Al Aqsa Mosque, will all its corridors and expanses, and every part of it - both over and underground - is the absolute right of the Muslims alone, and the city of Jerusalem will remain Islamic and Arab".
The threat was likely a response to a bill, tabled by Israel's Religious Affairs Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, which would put an end to discriminatory practices on the Temple Mount and instate shared prayer arrangements similar to those in effect at the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat Hamachpela) in Hevron.Again, although I would not ascend the Temple Mount myself because my rabbis don't allow it, a situation where only Muslims can pray on the Temple Mount, which is 'controlled by Jews,' is a bit absurd.
Labels: Saudi Arabia, Temple Mount
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:53 PM
1 Comments:
Wow! I've read that at the time of the Six Day War, when, among other incredible accomplishments, Israeli troops quickly defeated the only Arab Army worth a damn, the British-trained Jordanian Army, one Israeli general, who had the necessary Engineer troops, the necessary explosives, everything necessary, right on hand, wanted to send them to the Temple Mount and demolish that golden-domed obscenity. He was stopped by some other Israeli generals.
Here I am, in the Great Satan, and don't have to live surrounded by 100 million muslims. So, for me, words can be cheap. That said, maybe it was a mistake to stop him.
The Temple Mount is a few acres, unique on all of God's Earth. Speaking as a believing Christian, and I say this with absolutely no flippancy, I think there should only be a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. Want a Church or Mosque? Sorry, build it elsewhere. I'm a devout believing Christian, who considers Jews as his brothers and sisters. The muslims are God's children, too, however profoundly misguided.
That said, I think that unless and until the Almighty Himself indicates otherwise, that golden-domed monstrosity is an affront to God and Man.
BTW, I don't claim to be a great Scriptural scholar. Just a very flawed believer, like all us, dependent on God's Grace. I've read in a number of places in Scripture the phrase, "the abomination that causes desolation".
Could somebody please explain to your confused goy brother what this phrase means? It's always really intrigued me.
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