Israel is “working to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Temple in its place,” says PA minister

Official PA TV program Topic of the Day

PA Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Malki: “Currently, regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it is completely clear that there is a clear intent to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque according to times (see note below -Ed.), and they have done this by defining specific hours for the entry of Jewish settlers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing Muslims from entering it during those hours (i.e., apparently refers to security measures to prevent Muslims from harassing and attacking Jews on the Temple Mount). At the same time, they are also attempting to divide it according to areas by designating specific sites such as the Gate of Mercy as a starting point for Judaizing this mosque to divide it on the one hand, and to take control of it on the other. Everything that the extremist Jewish organizations are doing, which are working to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Temple in its place – these are ongoing attempts supported and aided by the occupation state, [carried out] by the army and soldiers inside the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and around it. Therefore, this is a true threat; it is a threat that we do not need to deal with alone as a Palestinian people.”

[Official PA TV, Topic of the Day, April 11, 2021]

“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.