PA council: Israel’s goal is the “destruction” of Al-Aqsa Mosque and “the building of the alleged Temple in its place"
“Secretary-General of the [PA’s] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places Hanna Issa emphasized that the presence of [East] Jerusalem residents and Palestinians from the interior (i.e., Israeli Arabs) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque must be increased, at a time when the policy of closing it and the repeated invasions by groups of settlers protected [by Israeli guards] continues… Issa noted that the groups of settlers were acting to increase the tension at Jerusalem’s Noble Sanctuary (i.e., the Temple Mount)… in order to achieve their desired goal: the division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, similarly to the Ibrahimi Mosque (i.e., Cave of the Patriarchs), in preparation for its destruction and the building of the alleged Temple in its place.”
Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.
The “division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque” refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount. The law seeks to implement separate prayer times for Muslims and Jews at the site.
Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.
The “division of the Al-Aqsa Mosque” refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount. The law seeks to implement separate prayer times for Muslims and Jews at the site.