It is the Palestinian rioters themselves who are defiling the al-Aqsa Mosque by transforming it into a base for attacks, a video released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demonstrates.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a video showing the defilement of the al-Aqsa Mosque by Palestinians, who use the mosque’s furniture as barricades and launch fireworks from inside its premises.
“The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the two Jewish Temples were located, is the holiest site in Judaism. Called Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) by Muslims, the site now contains the Dome of the Rock as well as the al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered to be the third holiest site in Islam,” the MFA explains. “The al-Aqsa Mosque is situated at the southern end of the Temple Mount plaza (esplanade), covering a relatively small part of its surface. Moreover, all evidence places the historical Jewish Temples on a different part of the Temple Mount than that now occupied by the mosque.”
In the past few months, Palestinian Arabs have been intensifying the violence against Christians and Jews visiting the Temple Mount. Incited not only by Hamas and the radical branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, but also by Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas and other PA leaders, the rioters have attacked visitors as well as the police with stones and fireworks, using the al-Aqsa Mosque as their base of operations.
“The ridiculous accusations that Israel plans to harm the al-Aqsa Mosque are utterly baseless. The fact that they are made not only by Islamist extremists, but also by the mainstream Palestinian leadership, is alarming and dangerous,” the MFA states.
“It is the Palestinian rioters themselves who are defiling the al-Aqsa Mosque by transforming it into a base for attacks. They use the mosque’s furniture as barricades and launch fireworks from inside its premises, where carpets and wooden beams could easily catch fire. The rioters are also demonstrating their disrespect for the many Muslim worshippers who simply wish to pray in peace, as well as for the Islamic Waqf that manages the site.”
According to the MFA, the Israeli Police, “takes extra care not to hurt the sensitivities of Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount. Officers only enter the area in specific cases when riots have to be controlled. Moreover, as a matter of policy, the police never enters the mosque itself. Although they often find themselves in life-threatening situations, police officers who operate on the Temple Mount are equipped merely with non-lethal measures.”
“Israel places the highest value on upholding freedom of religion and worship. Jewish holy sites are open to visitors of all faiths, as are the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem,” the MFA asserts.
Click below to see video:
Please sign The Jerusalem Declaration to keep the Holy City united and to allow freedom of worship for peoples of all faiths. Click HERE.