PA Mufti denies existence of Jewish Temple, threatens religious war over Al-Aqsa, Jews “desecrate” the mosque

Official PA TV host: “Let’s talk about the growing warnings against the outbreak of a religious war due to these recurring break-ins by the extremist settlers, in an effort to impose a certain division on the Al-Aqsa Mosque plazas” …

PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein: “The occupation authorities, the settler organizations, and the extremist Jewish associations claim that [these visits] are for the memorial day of the destruction of the alleged Temple. These are effectively baseless pretexts. Jerusalem and its holy sites are being targeted… They are attempting to give a Jewish character to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, while exploiting the Jewish holidays as cover for these invasions, for this aggression… The battle for the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque has not ended… The policy of the Israeli government and the extremist Jewish associations is to impose a new reality on the Al-Aqsa Mosque… But of course the Al-Aqsa Mosque, everyone knows… it is a mosque of the Muslims only, which is not shared by anyone. This is a completely Islamic mosque” …

TV host: “When we speak about warnings against a religious war, and the occupation’s attempts to change the conflict from being political over land to being religious over holy sites – the Al-Aqsa Mosque is being targeted... It is clear that the holy sites have been targeted and there is an attempt to change the conflict from political to religious. What is the significance of the warning against a religious war?” …

Muhammad Hussein: “When we say that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is being targeted for a division according to times and areas by the Jewish associations - and even the Israeli governments identify with this intent - this is clear aggression against the [Muslim] faith, the religion, the culture, the Shari’ah [law], and the religious rituals in general. How can the Muslims – the Palestinians first of all, and all the Muslims in the world – how can they stand idly by when they see blatant aggression that is meant to change the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a desecration of everything that is sacred at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a desecration of the sanctity that Allah preserved for the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque? This will certainly lead to more than [just] political wars – this will lead to comprehensive wars… a religious war that is connected to defending the faith and the holy sites.”

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

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.

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.

“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.