Jerusalem Authorities denounce Israeli actions, which they claim are “threatening” the city’s status

Headline: “The sources of authority in Jerusalem emphasize their opposition to any Israeli step that harms the legal and religious status in Jerusalem”

“The sources of authority in Jerusalem emphasized their opposition to any Israeli step that harms the legal, religious, or historical status of Jerusalem, its holy sites, and its institutions.

During a meeting that was held yesterday [Aug. 7, 2023] at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah led by Head of the [PLO] Department of Jerusalem Affairs Adnan Al-Husseini, the sources of authority emphasized that the extremist right-wing government ministers’ invasion of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque constitutes a provocative message, and threatens severe dangers and a division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its plazas according to areas (see note below -Ed.).

Present at the meeting were [PA Grand] Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Chairman of the [Palestine] National Fund (i.e., declared a terror organization by Israel; see note below) and the [PA] Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Ramzi Khouri, [PA] Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Fadi Al-Hadmi, and Secretary-General of the Popular National Conference of Jerusalem Bilal Al-Natsheh.

Al-Husseini briefed the participants in the meeting on the recent developments in the holy city and on the dangers surrounding the occupied capital and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and particularly the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the background of… the concern that this racist government will advance in carrying out its plans, and especially the publications on the so-called ‘slaughter of cows’ at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The sources of authority emphasized their opposition to any form of participation in the elections for the occupation’s Jerusalem Municipality, and that they define this as a crime. They also emphasized that participation in these elections is forbidden under any circumstances from a religious legal perspective and from a national perspective.”

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 8, 2023]

Adnan Al-Husseini also serves as PLO Executive Committee member and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, and is a former Jerusalem District Governor.

Muhammad Hussein also serves as Deputy Secretary-General and acting Secretary-General of the PLO Popular National Conference of Jerusalem.

Ramzi Khouri also serves as PLO Executive Committee member.

Break-in/Invasion/attack of Al-Aqsa Mosque - The PA and its leaders misrepresent all of the Temple Mount as an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore, they vilify any presence of Jews on the mount as an "invasion." It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police ban Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount because of threats of violence by Palestinians.

“Division according to areas and times” refers to a submission of a “private bill” by Israeli MP Uri Ariel in March 2003. The bill suggested ensuring freedom of religious worship by allowing both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount - what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The bill sought to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews. The bill never progressed past the initial legislatory stage. While there was additional discussion on the subject in 2012, no legislation was ever passed. In response to the incessant PA claims that the “division according to areas and times” of the Temple Mount is an operative Israeli plan, former Israeli PM Netanyahu stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of ‎changing the so-called status quo on the Temple Mount, which de facto is interpreted to mean Jews are only allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but not to conduct individual or communal prayers there. In July 2021, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett said Muslims and Jews have freedom of worship at the Temple Mount, which was understood by many as a hint to changing the status quo at the site, but the following day his office backtracked and said he misspoke and did not mean Jews would have freedom of worship, but rather would have freedom to visit. “There is no change in the status quo,” a statement from PM Bennett’s office confirmed.y type of worship.

PNF declared terror organization by Liberman: Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman declared the Palestine National Fund of the PLO a terror organization on March 16, 2017. The fund manages financial aid received by the PLO from different sources. The Israeli Ministry of Defense declare the fund a terror organization due to the fund's "massive support for elements responsible for committing severe acts of terrorism against Israel," and stated that the fund serves "as a significant financial pipeline for tens of millions of shekels that are transferred on a monthly basis to security prisoners held in Israel for committing acts of terrorism and to members of their families," and that "the fund also supports family members of terrorists who were wounded and killed while perpetrating acts of terrorism against Israel." It also stated that "the necessary steps will be taken, in Israel and abroad, to seize and forfeit the property and money belonging to the fund.”

Palestinian Media Watch has documented that the PA uses the Palestine National Fund to transfer money for terrorist salaries to the PLO.