Rashida Taliba’s recent tweet about the Temple Mount reveals her shocking, malicious ignorance of the facts-on-the-ground at Judaism’s holiest site.
By United With Israel Staff
On Sunday, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar on which the Children of Israel mourn the destruction of both Holy Temples, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich) tweeted falsehoods about events at Judaism’s holiest site.
Tlaib, who was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrants, claimed Israeli police assaulted Palestinians praying on the Temple Mount.
Specifically, she retweeted Al Jazeera reporter Arwa Ibrahim, who included a video showing what he called “First moments of when Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after Fajr prayer this morning.”
In reality, a brief clash broke out on the Temple Mount when Palestinians threw stones at Israeli police on the esplanade.
Three falsehoods made Tlaib’s tweet exceptionally incendiary, even by her own standards.
Lie 1: Israeli police acted for no reason.
Fact: Israeli police were responding to Palestinians who ambushed them with stones. The violence was certainly not spontaneous. Police often find stones stockpiled inside the Al Aqsa Mosque.
Lie 2: Tlaib claimed Israel attacked during the holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Fact: The four-day holiday of Eid al-Adha began Monday night, more than 24 hours after the Al-Jazeera video was taken.
Lie 3: The incident took place while Palestinians were in prayer.
Fact: Al Jazeera reporter Arwa Ibrahim clearly indicated the video was after Fajr, or morning prayers.
Moreover, the Jerusalem Post recently reported that Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Hamas and the Ra’am party have been trying to “whip up the Arab street into a frenzy over [Jews] supposedly storming Al Aqsa.”
Their rhetoric may be more about raising their influence over the Islamic Waqf, the trusteeship that administers the Temple Mount. But whatever the reason, Tlaib joined the chorus.
Palestinian rock throwing on the Temple Mount has become a tradition every Tisha B’Av, the holiday when Jews mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples among other tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people.
The falsehoods in Tlaib’s tweet on Sunday raise serious questions about her motives and commitment to the truth.
Many Palestinians, including senior PA political and spiritual leaders, deny that the Temples even existed on the site.
Does Tlaib share that view?
Why is Israel attacking Al Aqsa on Eid Al Adha (the holiest day for Muslims)? Why attack people who are literally kneeling down in prayer?
Answer: To continue dehumanizing Palestinians even in prayer. It's not enough to bomb them while they sleep or demolish their homes. https://t.co/dzp8wMJBX8
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 18, 2021