Israeli trying to “Judaize” the Al-Aqsa Mosque, take it over and build the “Third Temple,” says PLO official

Headline: "Majdalani: Racist Erdan’s call is a dangerous escalation and the international community must hold him accountable"

"PLO Executive Committee member Ahmed Majdalani said that the statements of the Israeli government’s so-called Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan, who called to change the ‘status quo’ at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque (Erdan called to allow Jews to pray at the Temple Mount; see note below –Ed.)… are a dangerous thing that heralds an explosion of the situation.

Majdalani added last night (Tuesday) [Aug. 13, 2019] that the occupation's attempt is continuing in the direction of imposing a division of time and area in order to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque, by establishing a policy of break-ins into the mosque and attacking those carrying out Ribat(i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic) within it, and afterwards by completely taking it over and changing its identity by building what the occupation calls ‘the Third Temple' in place of the Dome of the Rock."

Ahmed Majdalani also holds the positions of Secretary-General of the terror organization Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) and head of the PLO Department of Labor and Planning.
 

The mention of Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan’s statements refer to comments he made in an interview with Radio 90FM on Aug. 13, 2019, in which he said: “I think that there is an injustice in the status quo that has existed [on the Temple Mount] since 1967, and that it is necessary to work to change it so that Jews in the future will be able God willing to also pray on the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site for the Jewish people and the third most significant site in Islam.”

“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.

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.