Preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque: “There are plans to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque according to areas and times that are advancing in accelerated steps”
Headline: "Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher: Plans to divide the blessed mosque are advancing in accelerated steps"
"Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Dr. Ismail Nawahda… said yesterday [Dec. 28, 2018] in the Friday prayer sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque… that 'There are plans to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque according to areas and times that are advancing in accelerated steps,' while relating to the recurring invasions of and attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the settlers and some of the occupation's senior officials, in addition to the closure of some of its gates from time to time. He emphasized: 'All of this is happening in the shadow of the Arab and Islamic rifts, and some of them running to implement normalization with the occupation as if Jerusalem does not interest them at all.'"
"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.
The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view 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.
"Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Dr. Ismail Nawahda… said yesterday [Dec. 28, 2018] in the Friday prayer sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque… that 'There are plans to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque according to areas and times that are advancing in accelerated steps,' while relating to the recurring invasions of and attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the settlers and some of the occupation's senior officials, in addition to the closure of some of its gates from time to time. He emphasized: 'All of this is happening in the shadow of the Arab and Islamic rifts, and some of them running to implement normalization with the occupation as if Jerusalem does not interest them at all.'"
"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.
The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view 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.