PA PM: Al-Aqsa is under attack, Israel has not found any Jewish artifacts there, we will remain loyal to Martyrs and prisoners
Headline: “Shtayyeh: Today we are dealing with wars that the US and Israel have forced upon us, but we will not be defeated”
“[PA] Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several world presidents and leaders, took part in the inauguration of the Camlica Mosque – the largest mosque in Turkey – in the Asian part of Istanbul yesterday [May 3, 2019].
Shtayyeh said during his speech at the ceremony: ‘The Al-Aqsa Mosque is being subjected today to a powerful attack by the Israeli settlers who are waging three battles against us: the geographic battle, the demographic battle, and the battle of the narratives. The battle for the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the battle of the narratives, for after more than 50 years of excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque (sic., Israel does not excavate under the Al-Aqsa Mosque; see note below), Israel has not found anything that strengthens its narrative about it’ (sic., numerous Jewish archaeological artifacts have been found at the Temple Mount)…
Shtayyeh continued: ‘Today we are dealing with wars that the US and Israel have forced upon us. A political war that is being expressed in the deal of the century (refers to US President Donald Trump’s as yet unpublished Middle East peace plan –Ed.) and a financial war to dry up the PA’s financial sources (apparently refers to US Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018 and Israeli Anti “Pay-for-Slay” Law; see notes below –Ed.). But we will not be defeated, and we will remain loyal to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, the prisoners, and the Martyrs (Shahids); Palestine will remain the center of the conflict in the region, and without a resolution of the Palestinian cause there will be no peace in the region.’”
Excavations under the Temple Mount