"Allah, liberate our mosque from the occupation`s filth" - "Jerusalem is ours"
Fatah: "O Allah, liberate our mosque
from the occupation's filth"
k
Official PA daily: "Jerusalem is ours"
- Abbas: The Islamic and Christian holy sites are in need of "defense"
- Speaker on behalf of Abbas, about Israel's actions on the Temple Mount: They are "a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple"
- Editorial in official PA daily: "Holy sites [are being] harmed... undergo Judaization"
Nan Jacques Zilberdik
The Palestinian Authority and Fatah continue to endorse the Palestinian riots in Jerusalem, encourage their "escalation," and present the situation to Palestinians as if the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem are in danger and need "defense."
PA and Fatah leaders have almost entirely ignored the terrorist attack earlier this month, when terrorists shot from within the Temple Mount plaza and murdered 2 Israeli border policemen. However, they are protesting fiercely against the metal detectors Israel has placed as a safety measure at the entrances to the holy site following the attack.
These metal detectors are presented by Palestinian leaders as constituting an Israeli "escalation," "aggression," and an "attack" against Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They view Israel's actions as an intolerable violation of the so-called "status quo" on the Temple Mount, and interpret Israel's security measures there as an encroachment onto what they see as Muslim property only. Palestinian Media Watch has documented that PA and Fatah leaders repeatedly state that all of the Temple Mount, including the Western Wall, belongs to Muslims only. They continuously spread the libel that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is under attack, and that Israel is plotting its destruction in order to build the "alleged Temple."
During the last two weeks, PA and Fatah leaders have called for an "escalation" of the riots, urged Palestinians to "rage," and even glorified death, encouraging Palestinians to die "for Palestine."
An example of the PA's message to Palestinians not to accept Israel's security measures on the Temple Mount is seen in the cartoon above, which was published in the official PA daily. A Palestinian kicks over a metal detector, which flips upside down to form the word "ours" in Arabic and completes the statement: "Jerusalem is ours." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 23, 2017]
To illustrate the alleged "danger" posed by "the occupation" to the Islamic holy site, Abbas' Fatah called on Allah for help to "liberate our mosque":
Posted text: "O Allah, liberate our mosque from the occupation's filth"
Text on image: "A good and blessed Friday"
[Official Fatah Facebook page, July 21, 2017]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented that Palestinians often refer to the presence of Jews on the Temple Mount as "filth" and a "desecration" of the site - even PA Chairman Abbas has said this. Abbas has also expressed his "pride" in Palestinians in Jerusalem for their current "resolve." He has called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestinians in their "defense" of the Islamic and Christian holy sites, thereby alluding to the alleged "danger," while warning Israel of the consequences of showing "contempt for the sentiments of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims throughout the world":
"The president [Abbas] expressed his pride in the members of our people everywhere, and particularly in Jerusalem and its institutions, over their resolve before the occupation's severe steps... He emphasized the importance of the solidarity of the Arab nation and the Islamic nation and their standing by our Palestinian people in order to defend the sites holy to Islam and Christianity in Jerusalem... The president warned against contempt for the sentiments of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims throughout the world, the attempt to impose new facts on the ground, and the continuation of these Israeli steps that blatantly violate the decisions of international parties."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 21, 2017]
Speaking on behalf of PA Chairman Abbas, and referring to a "meeting of the Palestinian leadership," Secretary-General of the PA Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim stated that Israel's actions on the Temple Mount are in fact "a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple":"Jerusalem is our political Qiblah (i.e., the direction for Muslim prayer, Mecca)... to which our compass will not cease to point, no matter what the sacrifices may be. There will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem, and Jerusalem must be purely Arab for its Muslims and Christians. We will not agree to Jewish rule or sovereignty over it...
[Israel] forcing sovereignty on Jerusalem is an old plan for these followers of the Talmud... this is not about a division [between Jews and Muslims] according to [prayer] times or areas in Jerusalem (sic., on the Temple Mount), but rather it is a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 23, 2017]
An editorial in the official PA daily also repeated the claim that Al-Aqsa is in danger, and that Israel is "Judaizing" the site. It called Israel's actions on the Temple Mount a "brutal attack against Jerusalem," and claimed they are a sign of Israel's "plans to Judaize the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque." The editorial further quoted a speech by Abbas in which he called for unity between Fatah and Hamas:"President Mahmoud Abbas' call is the call of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a crucial historical moment: Either there will be national unity to support Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, or there will be a more brutal occupation and more dangerous plans. But Palestine will not agree to anything other than unity. It will not agree to a continuation of the occupation, and will not agree that its holy sites be harmed or undergo Judaization."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 23, 2017]
A Fatah Central Committee member presented Israel's metal detectors, and the two-day closure of the Temple Mount, as Israel's attempt at "preventing" Palestinians from praying, and reiterated the claim that Islamic holy sites are in need of "defense":Posted text: "Muhaisen: Everything that is happening is a toll for the defense of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque
[Fatah] General Commissioner of Mobilization and Organization [in the West Bank], Fatah Movement Central Committee member [and PLO Central Council member] Dr. Jamal Muhaisen emphasized that despite all of the violations that the members of our people are experiencing and the attempts to stop their struggle and prevent them from praying, the young Palestinians are continuing in their struggle to defend the sites that are holy to Islam. He said: 'We know well that all that is happening is a toll for the defense of the sanctified site that is the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.'"
[Official Fatah Facebook page, July 21, 2017]
The denial of Jewish history in Jerusalem is a recurring theme in the discourse of Palestinian leaders, as Palestinian Media Watch has reported numerous times.The following are longer excerpts of the statements above:
Headline: "The [PA] president expressed his pride in the members of our people, and particularly in Jerusalem, and warned against the continuation of the Israeli steps"
"[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas held conversations with [leaders in] several capitals and yesterday [July 20, 2017] sent a Palestinian delegation to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. This was in order to brief the members of the UN Palestine Committee regarding the rights of the Palestinian people which cannot be renounced, to hold a special and immediate meeting, and to broaden [the scope of] its meetings so that they will include a discussion about the dangerous situation taking place in occupied Jerusalem, and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular, and to act to publish a position according to which all of the steps taken by the Israeli government regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque must be stopped, the metal detectors (refers to metal detectors placed at the entrances to the Temple Mount following a terror attack there on July 14, 2017, in which 2 Israelis were murdered; see note below -Ed.) must be removed, the historical and legal situation, freedom of worship, and the right of our people and all Muslims throughout the world to exercise their right to hold religious ceremonies freely must be respected, as is anchored in international law.
The president [Abbas] expressed his pride in the members of our people everywhere, and particularly in Jerusalem and its institutions, over their resolve before the occupation's severe steps. He also expressed appreciation for the steps that Jordan is taking under the leadership of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, his resolve before this severe situation, and his defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He emphasized the importance of the solidarity of the Arab nation and the Islamic nation and their standing by our Palestinian people in order to defend the sites holy to Islam and Christianity in Jerusalem. In addition, he called on them to continue in their obligation to support the resolve of our people in Jerusalem.
The president warned against contempt for the sentiments of the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims throughout the world, the attempt to impose new facts on the ground, and the continuation of these Israeli steps that blatantly violate the decisions of international parties."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 21, 2017]
"President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the Palestinian leadership will not accept Israel's recently installed metal detectors at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
He said, "[Israel] does not have the right to install these metal detectors, because having sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque is our [Palestinian] right. We have therefore taken a decisive and firm stance, especially with regard to security coordination."
This came as Abbas received the scholars participating in the Second National Forum of Scholars in Palestine, organized by the Supreme Council for Innovation and Excellence, at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.
"Things will be very difficult. We are not risking the destiny of our people. We only take deliberately examined decisions that we hope to make a result," Abbas added.
"We, the State of Palestine, are convinced that terrorism must be fought everywhere, and we have at least 83 protocols with various countries around the world to combat violence and terrorism," he told the participants.
On national unity, Abbas said there is a real chance to achieve national unity among all Palestinian factions through the Palestinian National Council and the Palestinian Central Council.
He also said there is a chance for reconciliation with Hamas, the de facto authority in the Gaza Strip, if only the latter accepts to enable the National Consensus Government, chaired by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, to perform its duties in the Gaza Strip."
[WAFA English edition, official PA news agency, July 23, 2017]
Headline: "In a speech that he gave on behalf of the [PA] president at the start of the Second National Forum for Scientists in Palestine - Abd Al-Rahim: Jerusalem is our political Qiblah, there will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem"
Excerpt of the full speech of Secretary-General of the PA Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, given on behalf of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the opening of the Second National Forum for Scientists in Palestine
"You know that the Palestinian leadership yesterday [July 22, 2017] held a meeting... in order to discuss the current situation and formulate appropriate solutions to deal with the developments. As far as we're concerned, Jerusalem is our political Qiblah (i.e., the direction for Muslim prayer, Mecca)... to which our compass will not cease to point, no matter what the sacrifices may be. There will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem, and Jerusalem must be purely Arab for its Muslims and Christians. We will not agree to Jewish rule or sovereignty over it.
Recently we have felt - and there is confirmed information on the matter - that there are intentions and plans to turn Jerusalem into a unified city and the capital of the occupation state, and that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who possesses the Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) mentality, stands firm on this plan...
My brothers, [Israel] forcing sovereignty on Jerusalem is an old plan for these followers of the Talmud. I tell you that this is not about a division [between Jews and Muslims] according to [prayer] times or areas in Jerusalem (sic., on the Temple Mount), but rather it is a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple, which they are talking about now in the most open manner and with the utmost recklessness and insolence."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 23, 2017]
"Division according to areas and times" refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount, what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The law seeks to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews.However, Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, which means Jews are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but cannot pray there or engage in any type of worship.
Image and text posted on the official Fatah Facebook page
Posted text: "Muhaisen: Everything that is happening is a toll for the defense of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque
[Fatah] General Commissioner of Mobilization and Organization [in the West Bank], Fatah Movement Central Committee member [and PLO Central Council member] Dr. Jamal Muhaisen emphasized that despite all of the violations that the members of our people are experiencing and the attempts to stop their struggle and prevent them from praying, the young Palestinians are continuing in their struggle to defend the sites that are holy to Islam. He said: 'We know well that all that is happening is a toll for the defense of the sanctified site that is the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.'"
[Fatah] General Commissioner of Mobilization and Organization [in the West Bank], Fatah Movement Central Committee member [and PLO Central Council member] Dr. Jamal Muhaisen emphasized that despite all of the violations that the members of our people are experiencing and the attempts to stop their struggle and prevent them from praying, the young Palestinians are continuing in their struggle to defend the sites that are holy to Islam. He said: 'We know well that all that is happening is a toll for the defense of the sanctified site that is the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.'"
[Official Fatah Facebook page, July 21, 2017]
Headline: "The call of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem"
Excerpt of an editorial by the official PA daily
"After an expanded meeting of the Palestinian leadership, which was held two days ago [July 21, 2017] and was dedicated to a discussion on the ways of dealing with the occupation's brutal attack against Jerusalem and the plans to Judaize the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech directed to the Palestinian people. In his speech, he called on all the national activity factions - and particularly on Hamas - to rise above our disagreements, give preference to the national matter over matters connected to the factions, and act for the unity of our people...
President Mahmoud Abbas' call is the call of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a crucial historical moment: Either there will be national unity to support Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, or there will be a more brutal occupation and more dangerous plans. But Palestine will not agree to anything other than unity. It will not agree to a continuation of the occupation, and will not agree that its holy sites be harmed or undergo Judaization. It said this in the strongest and clearest way on the great Friday, the Friday of mobilization [for the Al-Aqsa Mosque], when the three Muhammads (refers to three rioters killed in confrontations with the Israeli army; see note below -Ed.) blessed it with their pure blood."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 23, 2017]
Muhammad Lafi (18), Muhammad Hassan Abu Ghannam (aged in his 20s), and Muhammad Sharaf (17) - three Arab rioters who were killed by Israeli soldiers on July 21, 2017, while participating in separate confrontations with the Israeli army in Jerusalem and around it. The riots were held in protest of Israel placing metal detectors at the entrance to the Temple Mount following a terror attack there on July 14, 2017, in which 2 Israelis were murdered.