Palestinian official calls for “a response at all levels” to silent Jewish prayer

Official PA TV program Good Morning Jerusalem

Official PA TV host: “The occupation court’s decision to allow extremists to hold silent prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque (refers to a Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court ruling that Jews do not violate police instructions by silently praying at the Temple Mount, which was later overturned by a Jerusalem District Court ruling -Ed.) – what is your response to this, and what is the consequence of a decision like this on the situation of the Jerusalem residents, as you are very close since you are the southern gate of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque?”

Silwan and Al-Bustan Neighborhood Defense Committee member Fakhri Abu Diab: “First, the Israeli legal system and courts are part of the occupation system, and let the world not be deceived about these courts, which are perhaps attempting to always wrap every decision of the occupation with a legal wrapping to market it in the world.

Second, this is one of the most dangerous steps that the occupation wants to begin. Perhaps the Israeli occupation government ordered these courts to permit these most extreme extremists to hold silent prayers. This is the beginning of the division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque according to areas (see note below -Ed.), and this will be the most dangerous step after the attempt to place cameras and electronic gates at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque (refers to security measures in 2017 following an attack at the site; see note below -Ed.).

But at that time [in 2017] the response, resolve, and stand of the Jerusalem residents and those who stood alongside them led the occupation to fold. Therefore, the response needs to be commensurate to the historical, religious, and national value of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and also to be commensurate to this oppressive decision, because the occupation always anticipates the official and popular response… and on this basis it builds its next steps.

The occupation wants to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and now it especially wants to cut off 5 dunams in the eastern area next to the Gate of Mercy [of the Old City] to establish a site for the settlers’ Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) ceremonies in this area.

Therefore, the response needs to be at the same level, and especially because this will empty the Jordanian auspices [at the Al-Aqsa Mosque] of content, will annul all the authorities of the [Islamic] Endowments Department [of Jerusalem], and there will also be an attempt here to do what the occupation did at the Ibrahimi Mosque (i.e., Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron and to gradually attempt first to join with us in [holding] prayers, and afterwards to also divide the mosque. I think that there needs to be a response at all levels to this act.”

[Official PA TV, Good Morning Jerusalem, Oct. 8, 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.