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Saturday, October 22, 2005

Jim Davila points to this WorldNetDaily interview with "'Sheik Kamal Hatib, vice-chairman of the Islamic Movement, the Muslim group in Israel most identified with Temple Mount militancy,' in which he is reported to have spouted much lunacy," says Jim.

WND: Who should have sovereignty over the Temple Mount – Jews, Christians, or Muslims. Or should it be shared?

HATIB: We absolutely believe that Al Aqsa, all its different parts, all its walls, all its courts, and everything down the mosque or up it, all these fully belong to the Muslims. Only to them. No one other than the Muslims has any right over Al Aqsa, or even over any grain of its sand. We, the Muslims, insist and emphasize that the only sovereignty over Al Aqsa must be for the Muslims. We will not accept or recognize any other sovereignty, including shared control.

WND: But what about the previous Jewish Temples? Do you believe they existed? Do Jews have any historic claims to the Temple Mount whatsoever?

HATIB: We the Muslims believe that Al Aqsa was built since the time of Adam – God bless him. It was built 40 years after the construction of the Al Haram Mosque in Mecca which was built thousands of years ago. Al Aqsa was built by the angels as it is mentioned in a verse of the Quran. The mosque is mentioned in the Quran, which speaks about the raising of the prophet.

We believe that the Jewish Temples existed, but we deny they were built near Al Aqsa. When the First Temple was built by Solomon – God bless him – Al Aqsa was already built. We don't believe that a prophet like Solomon would have built the Temple at a place where a mosque existed...

Also,

WND: Speaking of praying, currently, Jews and Christians can only ascend the Mount at certain hours on certain days, and only with approval from the Wafq (the Mount's Muslim custodians). If they go up, it is to tour. Non-Muslims are not allowed to pray on the Mount. Why is it so offensive to you if Jews or Christians pray on the Temple Mount?

HATIB: We don't want even these scheduled visits, which are allowed to take place only because of the Israeli occupation. The visits are not the result of a free choice of the Muslims and the Wafq. If it was not for Israel, these visits could not take place at all.

As a principle, we are not against the possibility that Jews and Christians enter our mosques, but in present there is a campaign against Al Aqsa and the Jewish occupation still has dangerous ambitions towards the mosque and every entry will be done to demonstrate a religious presence. Therefore, if they would enter freely into the mosque, there will be political consequences and interpretations that we cannot accept.

In other words, if the others accept their Dhimmi status, we may be able to make some minor accomodation, otherwise...

See Jim's always knowledgable commentary.

3 Comments

There is no relenting. The PA and seemingly the entire Arab world, outside of Lebanon perhaps, is becoming more and more fundamentalist in rhetoric and teaching. The Muslim teaching sticks to a hard line in your face bullying rhetoric and PC Western Libs not only won't confront it, question it they sometimes cheer for it.

The Temple Mount is holy to three religions. Why should only one be allowed access to it?

Solomon built the first Temple and the Ark of the Covenant was implaced in it. Christians believe that Jesus visited there during Passover. The Muslims believe they have a right to it because of some vague dream Mo had.

If only one faith is to have access, it should be Jews. If I forget thee..

"When the First Temple was built by Solomon – God bless him – Al Aqsa was already built."

I love these guys. You can't make this stuff up.

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