Fatah spokesman calls on Palestinians to carry out Ribat and defend Al-Aqsa "using all means"
Headline: “Assaf: The Palestinians will oppose the occupation’s plan using all legitimate means”
“Fatah Spokesman Ahmad Assaf held [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government responsible for the volatile situation in Jerusalem. In addition, he emphasized that all of the actions, violations, and condescending statements of Israeli officials regarding Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites pour oil on the flame of increasing tension in holy Jerusalem. Assaf warned in press statements on Thursday [Oct. 30, 2014] of the dangerous consequences that are liable to arise from the closing of the Jerusalem Noble Sanctuary (i.e., Temple Mount) by the Israeli occupation authority, and called on our people to carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at it and to defend it using all means. Likewise, he emphasized that Fatah will stand at the forefront [of the efforts] to thwart the Israeli plan whose purpose is to divide the first direction of prayer and the third sanctuary, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to times and areas, and that it will lead to a religious war that will threaten the security and stability of the region, and of the entire world. Assaf emphasized that the Fatah Movement and the Palestinian people will oppose the Israeli plan using all means.”
"Division according to areas and times" 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, what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The law seeks to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews.
However, Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, which means Jews are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but cannot pray there or engage in any type of worship.
“Fatah Spokesman Ahmad Assaf held [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government responsible for the volatile situation in Jerusalem. In addition, he emphasized that all of the actions, violations, and condescending statements of Israeli officials regarding Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites pour oil on the flame of increasing tension in holy Jerusalem. Assaf warned in press statements on Thursday [Oct. 30, 2014] of the dangerous consequences that are liable to arise from the closing of the Jerusalem Noble Sanctuary (i.e., Temple Mount) by the Israeli occupation authority, and called on our people to carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at it and to defend it using all means. Likewise, he emphasized that Fatah will stand at the forefront [of the efforts] to thwart the Israeli plan whose purpose is to divide the first direction of prayer and the third sanctuary, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to times and areas, and that it will lead to a religious war that will threaten the security and stability of the region, and of the entire world. Assaf emphasized that the Fatah Movement and the Palestinian people will oppose the Israeli plan using all means.”
"Division according to areas and times" 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, what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The law seeks to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews.
However, Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, which means Jews are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but cannot pray there or engage in any type of worship.