Palestinian leaders praised violence against Jews visiting the Temple Mount on the Jewish New Year. PA Chair Mahmoud Abbas even said Jews have no right to desecrate the site “with their filthy feet.”
By Sara Abramowicz, United with Israel
Palestinian leaders, including PA President Mahmoud Abbas, are voicing support for attacks against Jews at the Temple Mount. Their comments are coming in the context of the increasing violence against Jewish worshipers visiting the holy site, culminating in riots and attacks against security forces on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
“Al-Aqsa is ours and so is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” Abbas said at a meeting with Jerusalem activists on Wednesday. “They have no right to desecrate them with their filthy feet. We won’t allow them to do so, and we will do whatever we can to defend Jerusalem.”
Abbas praised the Muslims who attacked the police officers sent to protect Jewish worshipers, saying, “Each drop of blood that was spilled in Jerusalem is pure blood as long as it’s for the sake of Allah. Every martyr will be in heaven and every wounded person will be rewarded, by Allah’s will.”
Israeli police secure the Temple Mount after Arab rioting. (Sliman Khader/Flash 90)
Earlier this week, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat described Israeli security precautions at the site as an attempt to “steal” the Temple Mount. Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said on Sunday that security arrangements at the site need to be reconsidered in light of the discovery of pipe bombs that were stashed for use against Israeli police.
Former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Ekrima Sabri told Times of Israel that Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount is aggressive and, therefore, violence is “self-defense.”
“Who do we oppose? Only extremist Jews who come with aggressive intentions, who want to harm al-Aqsa, build [the third Jewish] Temple or pray overtly,” he said. “Al-Aqsa is part of our faith. Defending our faith is the most powerful form of defense.”
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