PA Ministry accuses Israelis of plotting against Al-Aqsa Mosque

Headline: “The [PA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the extremist settlers will commit a large crime against the Al-Aqsa Mosque”

“The [PA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the ongoing provocative invasions of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by ultra-extremist settlers, and the Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) rituals that they are carrying out in addition to explanations about the alleged Temple in the mosque’s plazas, under increased protection by the occupation police.

The ministry said that the escalation of the invasions and the occupation’s various measures, including what was published in the Hebrew media regarding red heifers, holding priestly prayers, and spreading them to bring about more extensive participation in these invasions, is a direct result of the fact that the so-called ‘Temple’ associations and organizations feel that the extremist ministers in the Israeli government are defending and supporting them. This is liable to push them to carry out a great foolishness against the Al-Aqsa Mosque with their calls that are dangerous to the arena of the conflict and to the region in its entirety, on the path to eternalizing the existing division according to times and accelerating its division according to areas (see note below -Ed.), if not even its destruction and the establishment of the alleged Temple in its place.”

[WAFA, official PA news agency, Aug. 10, 2023]

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.