Israel Matzav

Pass the popcorn: Donald Trump wants to visit the Temple Mount

If you think we had an explosion here when Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount 15 years ago (and the 'Palestinians' used it as an excuse to start an intifada), you might want to check out this story. Donald Trump may want to ascend the Mount (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Republican US Presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump is strongly considering a visit to the Temple Mount when he comes to Israel for the first time at the end of the month.

A source closely connected to organizing the trip to Israel confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Trump's staff is looking into the logistics of visiting the holy site and point of conflict between Israel and the Arab world.

The planned visit follows Trump's call for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on" in light of "great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population."

Palestinians have often used Israeli politicians' visits to the Mount as an excuse for violence, falsely claiming Israel is changing the status quo.

The government maintains the status quo, in that non-Muslims may visit, but not pray on the Temple Mount, which is administered by the Jordanian Islamic Trust (Wakf). Jewish visitors are often harassed at the holy site, and earlier this year, a delegation of US Congressmen visiting the plaza also complained of harassment by Wakf guards.

Palestinian claims about the Temple Mount reached a fever pitch in recent months, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claiming Jews' feet defile the site, and contributed to sparking the current wave of terrorism, during which police found explosives hidden in the Al-Aksa Mosque on the Mount.

MK Taleb Abu Arrar (Joint List) said of Trump's plan to visit the Temple Mount: "If Trump the racist plans to visit Al-Aksa, the holiest place in the world for Muslims, to harm the sensitivities of people against whom he incites, he and Netanyahu will be responsible.

"Such a visit will set the whole region on fire, I am warning," Abu Arrar added. 

Yes, but neither of those Congressmen (Bill Johnson (R-OH) and David McKinley (R-WV)) were a particular target for the Arab world, and they visited 'undercover.' Trump is very recognizable and is now a lightning rod for the Arab/Muslim world. While I believe it's wrong to allow only Muslims access to the Mount, I don't believe that Israel needs to give the 'Palestinians' an excuse for suicide bombings and murder by allowing Trump onto the Mount.

Labels: Ariel Sharon, Donald Trump, intifadeh, Middle East peace process, Palestinian Authority, Temple Mount, United States Congress, US presidential campaign 2016, Wakf

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:26 PM