Calls for Al-Aqsa protest raise alert level at Temple Mount
Muslim leaders call on Israel's Muslims to protest planned construction on Temple Mount gate that could damage mosque.
By Jack Khoury and Jonathan LisThe Jerusalem police will raise the alert level at the Temple Mount Sunday morning in response to calls made by Muslim leaders on Israel's Muslim population to stage a demonstration at the site in protest of planned construction work on one of the main entrances to the Temple Mount.
The leader of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Ra'ad Salah, and the head of Jerusalem Supreme Muslim Council, Sheikh Ikrama Sabri called on the Muslim residents of Jerusalem, and Israel, to arrive at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and protest Israel's plan, according to them, to destroy the Mugrabi Gate, one of the gates in the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, in order to build a bridge.
The Police issued an announcement Saturday that the entrance to the Temple Mount will be limited to Muslim men over 45 years of age. The site will be closed to tourists and visitors. In addition, the police announced that it would patrol the Old City and at the Temple Mount in particular.
Salah maintained that the construction is slated to begin on Sunday. A Saudi-based body of Islamic scholars condemned Israel's construction plans on Saturday, saying it was a "blatant violation" of the shrine's sanctity.
Salah's northern branch of the Islamic Movement published an announcement saying the construction would damage the western part of the fence surrounding the mosque, and would facilitate future attacks on the mosque.
Sabri described the plans as "a crime and attack on the Muslim Waqf and on the Al-Aqsa Mosque." He called on all Arab nations to intervene and prevent the damaging of the mosque.
The Islamic Movement explained that the construction plan was meant to be carried out several years ago, but Israel waited for the right moment to begin work due to, among other considerations, the tensions in the Palestinian Authority.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Hamas leader Meshaal warns Israel not to play with "fire" by interferring with their holy shrine.Just a little reminder to him that Israeli's and Jews worldwide in this current time frame DO NOT DESTROY OTHER RELIGIONS places of worship.One only has to look to the period when Israel recently withdrew from Gaza to see the COMPLETE DESTRUCTION AND LOOTING of the beautiful synagogues which the settlers left behind.If Meshaal does not believe this then I will try to arrange for a copy to be sent to Haaretz to display on their website so all you illitterate Muslims may see your foul deeds.
one who does not recognize Israel's right to exist, is commenting here too!!! This person is not going to be happy until the forces of Islam (the religion of peace), do away with everything Jewish in our country, everything.....!!!
Waqf and Muslims are objecting because they dont want Jews to find more things to prove that Jerusalem and Temple Mount are JEWISH HOLY PLACE
How comes Jerusalem is holy place for Muslim, while Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in Koran, while in Jewish bible JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED MILLIONS OF TIMES.
The walkway is closed. The Mugrabi Gate is not open to the public right now, and in any case, it is not an access point for Muslims to enter the area for prayer. This entry point is from the Western Wall Plaza, and Muslims don't go through this way. This is a multi-million-dollar improvement, and won't be stopped because of the threat of riots.
"Let the worldwide magnificent tourist Jewish Temple rise" - And people wonder what Muslims are protesting against? It is people like you that even have the Christians of Jerusalems concerned over their status in this city.
"What about Muslim kids being killed in Gaza?" - Obviously someone hasnt been aware of the popular protests that have been occurring in Ramallah denouncing this violence. Oh well I dont expect a balanced news service to be available to you in Canada.
They live in a world of paranoid delusions and scarry monsters they invent in their heads.All hocus pocus obscurantist ways of thought need a boogey man to cement the loyalties of the canon fodder to the system.Nothing rallies the people around the Mullahs like ''THE JEWS ARE ATTACKING THE MOSQUE THE JEWS ARE ATTACKING THE MOSQUE" They are severly demented.
Why would the Muslims object to a construction project to repair a walkway ramp up to the Mugrabi Gate which is unstable, falling apart, and unsafe? If nothing is done, then that route to the Temple Mount would have to be closed to the public for safety reasons. The Israeli Basic Law which annexed East Jerusalem says (in part): "The Holy Places shall be protected from desecration and any other violation and from anything likely to violate the freedom of access of the members of the different religions to the places sacred to them or their feelings towards those places." So, what do the Muslims want? That the current structures on the Temple Mount be allowed to fall apart with age or what?
The walkway ramp leading up to the Mugrabi Gate is unstable and has collapsed already recently. It is in need of replacement, and that is going to happen now, to make it safe for tourists and other visitors, regardless of any claim of 'sensibilites' or 'protests' against this important construction project. This is a photo of the ramp (it is now closed to pedestrian traffic) http://www.har-habayt.org/2202j.JPG
Recognizing that Mark Lincoln has attempted to introduce a note of moderation, I think that we are way past that on this matter. Over the past few years the Waqf has carried out some sort of major work on the Temple Mount. Because of the constant problem of arousing Muslim anger and violence, Israel has not been able to determine just what is being done. However, aerial photos have shown that they are using huge rock cutters and, thus, are probably destroying centuries of archeological evidence. Despite that, Israel must refrain from making any changes or improvements. So, Mark, are you saying that Israel must use moderation no matter how extreme the actions of the Waqf?
Pals may have their Al Aqsa stones and put'em together in Mecca/Saudia , and live in their Saudia sponsor state, , muslims arabs & pals won't do that as compromise for peace , they want east Jerusalem as a stage to get all of Israel to rename it palestine , , , the Israeli Higher Arab Monitoring Committee document of " The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel " reject Israel's existence as a Jewish democratic state by its demands to veto issues of vital importance to the state , autonomy in interior affairs.changes in national symbols, residency and citizenship laws , , and with pals refugees return demands from Haifa to Beer Sheva, you now have crystal clear 2 pals states , , , they shout death to Israel , they don't want peace , they want death , ,
This is an oddly unbalanced article. Why didn't the author include any comments from Israeli officials about the possibilities of damage? Israel has been so solicitous of Muslim sensibilities--Jews can't even pray on the Temple Mount--that the Israeli Arab charges seem highly suspect.
While Israel is run by an incompetent hack and a small-time trade-unionists, the internal enemies are become more emboldened by the hour.
Any Sheik, mullah, ayatollah, or Imam can use the Muslim wild card and create a "fatwah" or concoct anything they want to stir up violence against the "kuffar" ("infidel non-Muslims like you and me). Here we go again....
The Palestinians must realise that the more they attack Israel and incite hatred with their daily lies the more they will lose of their future state, the large cities in judea and sumarria should be expanded and the mosque should be closed for muslims if they can't keep the peace there and they keep on trying to cause problems. How can they complian? Jews aren't even allowed to pray on their holiest site, the temple mount.
so when Israel wants to fix a walkway up to the temple mount that has been in place for decades the Waqf cries foul. But when they with the help of Jordan want to bulid an addtional spire on the mount (something that has not be done in hundreds of years) it is not damaging the site? is anyone else not suprised by this!
That arabs and left wingers destroyed Jewish huge groves of fruits and olives. Also, quite important. Dont you think Haaretz you aught to raise a huge hue and cry about Jewish olive groves being destroyed same as you did once before about questionable destruction of arab groves?
And I mean BOTH sides are stirring up more trouble. There has been enough damage done to the Temple Mount by Muslim construction work in recent years, now there is to be more. Everyone take a deep breath, relax, stop trying to piss the other side off, and start thinking about how to approach the situation without a confrontation.
What about moslem kids being killed in gaza???