PA leaders deny existence of "alleged Temple" in Jerusalem; claim Israel plans to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque

Video posted on the Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture

Video:

The video is from Fatah-run Awdah TV.

PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein: “They [Israelis] think that the time is completely right to realize and pass their plans and goals at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which are an imposition of a new reality at the mosque in terms of a division of areas (see note below -Ed.)… There is an attack against the existence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. There are calls to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and establish the alleged Temple in its place. This became clear on the anniversary of what they call the memorial day of the so-called destruction of the alleged Temple (i.e., Tisha B’Av; see note below)...”

PA Presidential Office Advisor Ahmed Al-Ruweidi: “They want… to impose a reality on the Al-Aqsa Mosque at this stage, and as a result of this to divide it in terms of areas and times on the way to establishing the alleged Temple that they speak about. Currently, there is a decision in the occupation government on the matter. Therefore,the sight we are seeing [Jews visiting the Temple Mount] reminds us of what happened in 1967 when East Jerusalem was occupied with the entry of an Israeli force from the Lions’ Gate to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the waving of the Israeli flag on the Dome of the Rock. This same exact sight is repeating itself… as they think that this is the best stage for establishing the alleged Temple that they speak about, and thus to tie what is happening at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to the concept of ‘the capital of the Jewish people in the world,’ which they are clearly speaking about…

(Al-Ruweidi speaks about Israel developing archaeological sites from the biblical period in Jerusalem- Ed.)

All of this indicates that this area is a Jewish religious area as it were, and we have no right there. In any case, our position is clear: This is our land, this is our mosque, the Al-Aqsa Mosque with its full territory of 144 dunams (i.e., the entire Temple Mount), and it is an exclusive right of the Muslims and no one shares this with them.

Many days ago we began working on the international level in conversations with diplomatic representatives here in Jerusalem, and we told them clearly: ‘What is happening at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is laying the groundwork for a religious war that will reach your area, your countries, because this mosque is part of the central faith of the Muslims, in other words, 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.’”

Muhammad Hussein also serves as Deputy Secretary-General and acting Secretary-General of the PLO Popular National Conference of Jerusalem.

Israeli peace agreements with the UAE and Bahrain

“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.

Tisha B'Av - Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem (586 BCE and 70 CE) and the forced exile of most of the Jewish people from the land of Israel.