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December 2015

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The Real Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Buraq (Western) Wall 3

Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK

All Rights Reserved © 2015

The Real Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Buraq (Western) Wall4

Contents

Introduction 5

The Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque 7

Al-Buraq Uprising 9

What Al-Aqsa Mosque Represents 11

The Importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque 13

Moshe Dayan Violates the Status Quo 1967 17

Burning of the Southern Mosque in 1969 21

Sharon Storms Al-Aqsa in 2000 23

The Role of the Occupation in Encouraging Temple Movements 25

Knesset Members and the Temple Movements 32

Zamoh Scheme as Further Evidence on Israeli Insistence to Change the Status Quo 37

Summary and Recommendations 40

References 42

The Real Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Buraq (Western) Wall

Introduction

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Introduction

Palestinians have paid a hefty price for claims and fables by Zionist politicians and writers in the early 20th Century as hundreds of thousands Palestinians were forced out of their homeland and thousands more killed. The Zionist media machine is still in full force to control the remainder of land so as to destroy the dream of Palestinian statehood even after launching the peace process and the Oslo Accord, of 1993 as settlements have increased more than any time before.

The city of Jerusalem has been directly targeted by this campaign as consecutive Israeli governments and Zionist organisations have altered the civil and cultural aspect of the Arab city in a systematic operation of cleansing. In the duration allowing the erection of settlements and bringing in settlers from all over the world, providing them with high living standards at the expense of the Palestinians whom most live under the poverty line and who suffer from systemic restrictions of rights, expulsion, demolition of homes and control thereof, as well as restrictions on constructing new homes to alleviate the shortage in housing crisis.

The Islamic sites have also fallen prey to Zionist media plunders as cemeteries have been bulldozed, such as the Ma’man Allah historic cemetery upon whose ruins a ‘Peace Museum’ was built. Intense steps are also underway to control al-Aqsa Mosque (Haram al-Sharif) so as to build the so-called “Temple”. Excavations under al-Aqsa have been intensified, threatening the existing and surrounding structures. Israel has also launched government backed programmes entitled, “Ascending to Temple Mt.” that allow Israelis to storm al-Aqsa grounds


to perform prayers, whereas it imposes restrictions on Palestinians who wish to perform their religious rights.

The Israeli occupation has launched many projects directed at undermining al-Aqsa in an attempt to impose temporal and spatial division. That in turn prevents Palestinians from entering the Mosque at certain times where the Israelis are allowed in under extreme military guard so as to perform their prayers - a matter that was severely opposed by the Palestinians, leading to al-Aqsa Uprising in which the Palestinians suffered huge losses.

The Israeli government is well aware of the importance of Jerusalem and its historic and religious lore to the Palestinians. It has not learnt from past catastrophes that were a direct consequence of its plans to undermine the importance of al-Aqsa throughout its occupation thereof. The Israeli government is found to be insistent on igniting a religious war in the region emanating from the occupied city of Jerusalem.


The Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque

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The Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque

The current Status Quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque has existed since the Ottoman rule (1516-1917), throughout the British Mandate (1917-1948) and the Jordanian rule (1948-1967) until the Israeli occupation of the West Bank in 1967. The Mosque and its compound which cover an area of 144,000 square metres have historically been administered by Islamic Waqf which(1), in turn, has been administered by the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs since 1948.

The term ‘Status Quo” cannot be traced to a specific agreement or document but is rather a situation that has existed since the rule of the Ottomans which ended in 1917, throughout the British Mandate, the Jordanian rule and the Israeli occupation of the city in 1967 when it was announced that the Status Quo would be theoretically respected and maintained. The reality on the ground, however, was different. The Israeli occupation of the city was followed by raids on the Mosque, seized control of the Wall, the destruction of al-Magharibah Quarter, and the digging of tunnels underneath al-Aqsa Mosque.

In 1994, a peace agreement between Jordan and Israel contained an article in which it was maintained that Israel would recognise the special role of Jordan in Muslim Holy Shrines in Jerusalem. Israel has time and again violated the articles of this peace treaty and continues to be in breach of International laws by attempting to change the Status Quo.

1 - The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf is a trust for controlling and managing the current Islamic edifices around and including Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.


• Photo showing al-Buraq Wall


Al-Buraq Uprising

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Al-Buraq Uprising

On 23 August 1929, Palestinians organised widespread demonstrations that began at al-Aqsa Mosque to protest Jewish attempts to control access to the Western Wall (Al-Buraq) which is considered part of the Mosque. The demonstrations spread to other Palestinian cities and resulted in the death and injury of scores of people. Britain responded by dispatching a commission chaired by Sir Walter Shaw, a jurist, to investigate the events at the end of September 1929. The Commission recommended that the “British take greater care in protecting the rights and understanding the aspirations of the Arabs” and advised the government to form an international fact-finding mission to determine the ownership of al-Buraq wall. In 1930, the League of Nations formed a Commission chaired by former Swedish foreign minister, Eliel Lofgren, and the membership of Charles Barde, Vice president of the International Court of Justice , and C.J. Kempen, a member of the States-General of the Netherlands. The Commission examined reports, dispatches and minutes relevant to al-Buraq Wall and conducted interviews with both sides before concluding that the ownership of the Wall and the adjacent surroundings accrues to the Muslims.


• Photo showing al-Aqsa Mosque


What Al-Aqsa Mosque Represents

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What Al-Aqsa Mosque Represents

Al-Aqsa Mosque is located on a hill at the south-eastern corner of the Old Town in the eastern part of the occupied city of Jerusalem, surrounded by irregularly shaped polygon walls, over an area of 144 km, and includes:

■ Dome of the Rock with a golden dome located in the centre of al-Aqsa Mosque premises, which is now used as a praying area for women on Fridays.

■ Southern Mosque or al-Aqsa Mosque building with a black lead-dome, located to the far south of al-Aqsa Mosque.

■ Al-Buraq Wall which the occupation turned into “the Wailing Wall” after the occupation of the city in 1967.

■ In addition to about 200 other landmarks, among them mosques, buildings, domes, waterways, terraces, schools, trees, mosque platforms, minarets, doors, wells, libraries, offices of the Department of Awqaf and its affiliates(2) , Zakat Committee, the Peaceful Heritage Committee, Qur’an and Hadith schools, rooms for imams, etc.


The Importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque

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There is no doubt that al-Aqsa Mosque is considered a prominent human heritage due to its religious and archaeological significance. A matter that was emphasized in a number of UN resolutions as well as others issued by UNESCO since 1968. Resolution No. 343 stated that the General Conference recognises the exceptional importance of the cultural property in the city of Jerusalem, and in particular the holiness of places, not only for the countries directly concerned but also for humanity as a whole because of their unique artistic, historical and religious values. The Conference takes into account Resolution 2253 which was adopted by the General Assembly on July 4, 1967 on the city of Jerusalem and which considers all measures taken by Israel in Jerusalem as illegitimate and calls for their annulment ...... It transmits to Israel an urgent international appeal in the framework of the United Nations’ resolutions referred to: 1- To accurately maintain the archaeological sites, buildings and other cultural property therein which are particularly in the Old Quarter of Jerusalem. 2- To refrain from any excavations or transfer of these properties or change of their appearance or cultural and historical nature.

This Resolution was followed by scores of others condemning Israeli actions in the occupied city of Jerusalem and its defiance of international will by continuing to change the city’s cultural aspect and tamper with sanctities; and in response to Israel’s decision to annex Jerusalem in 1980 and consider it the united capital of Israel, UNESCO passed a resolution in 1981 to include the Old Town on the World Heritage List, and in 1982 it so happened. In April 2015, UNESCO’s Foreign Relations Committee adopted a resolution that considers al-Aqsa grounds to cover the entire area of the Sacred Haram, with Bab



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al-Magharibah Road as an integral part thereof, and called on halting excavations, daily incursions in to al-Aqsa Mosque, opening the Gate of Mercy, and permitting restoration projects of al-Aqsa Mosque.

Following the violence that exploded in early October 2015, UNESCO issued a resolution on 21 October 2015 condemning Israel’s actions in Jerusalem and its restriction of freedom of worship in al-Aqsa Mosque.The resolution also condemned the repeated incursions that stoked Palestinian anger, and denounced the continuation of preventing UNESCO experts from the restoration of al-Aqsa Mosque’s Islamic manuscripts.

In addition to the above, the importance of al-Aqsa Mosque stems from its special religious status among Muslims since it was the first direction of prayers for Muslims, for it is the first Qiblah “direction” that Muslims prayed towards initially for about seventeen months before directing their prayers towards the Kaaba in Mekkah. Its status became of greater importance in the hearts of Muslims since the incident of Israa and Meraaj when Prophet Mohammed ascended to the heavens.

In culmination of this high status in Islam of Jerusalem and of al-Aqsa, the Omari Conquest of Jerusalem occurred in 636 AD, when Omar ibn al-Khattab entered the city peacefully and signed a decree to honour the safety of its inhabitants, known as “the Umariyya Covenant”, and after receiving the keys of Jerusalem city from Roman Patriarch Cefrnillos, Omar walked to Haram al-Sharif area which was completely in ruins at the time, visited the site of the scared Rock and ordered it cleaned and the establishment of a mosque in the southern side of Haram al-Sharif.



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• Photograph of al-Magharibah neighbourhood prior to its demolition in 1967



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• Photograph of Moshe Dayan and Rabin in al-Aqsa grounds 07/06/1967


Moshe Dayan Violates the Status Quo 1967

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Despite Security Council’s resolution which called for a ceasefire on 6 June 1967, occupation forces – led by Moshe Dayan - overran Jerusalem and stormed al-Aqsa Mosque on 7 June 1967, where the soldiers celebrated, performed prayers and hoisted the Israeli flag on the Dome of the Rock. Israeli leaders felt that a new status quo should be swiftly created starting from al-Aqsa Mosque, leading Ben-Gurion to remove the al-Buraq banner from the wall and order the demolition of the Magharibah Quarter to build a square enabling more than 200 thousand Jews to stand in front of al-Buraq Wall which they named the “Wailing Wall.”

The task of undertaking the demolition of al-Magharibah Quarter was delegated to the Israeli National Park Authority who decided to demolish the entire neighbourhood in order to create a yard in front of the alleged Wailing Wall (al-Buraq). After its expulsion of the residents and their forced displacement, the demolition was expanded beyond the area identified by the group of experts which was assembled by Mayor Teddy Kollek, and he influenced the members towards the complete destruction thereof.

On 11 June 1967 Dayan visited the Wall area and ordered that it be levelled quickly so that foreigners will not see the remnants of Arab homes demolished by Israeli bulldozers. But in the Muslim Quarter - neighbourhood of Honour - (1500 Houses) under Awqaf authority

• Photograph of Occupation forces demolishing al-Magharibah Quarter



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and inhabited by 5,300 people, Israel identified the houses in the neighbourhood as places holy to Jews, marked them with paint, and ordered its residents to evacuate them within three days.

On 17 June 1967 Dayan stormed al-Aqsa Mosque, and was accompanied by officers from the army, and met there with Palestinian leaders and asked about what bothered them. The leaders presented

• Photograph of Israeli soldiers in al-Aqsa grounds, 1967



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their problems such as the presence of soldiers in the Mosque and in Awqaf offices, and preventing Awqaf employees from reaching the Mosque because of the complications imposed by the army. It was then that Dayan informed them of his pre-planned decision that soldiers will be withdrawn from Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mt.) and that the administration of the Haram will be given to the Islamic Awqaf provided that the Israeli Army guards the outer perimeter of the site. Awqaf were given the freedom of setting the regulations in the Haram area along with the right of Jews to visit the premises provided they respect the laws set forth by the Islamic Awqaf. The intention of Dayan through this military decision was to get a waiver from the Muslims whereby a new status quo will be set in motion instead of when Jews were prevented from entering the Haram premises because it was owned solely by Muslims. Hence Dayan wished to limit the absolute powers of Islamic Awqaf who still insist that al-Aqsa is a right solely for Muslims and that none other have any right therein, a matter that was echoed by the International Commission report, published in 1930.

In order to assert its authority over al-Haram and its rejection of the status quo that Dayan attempted to impose, the Awqaf would impose fees on all non-Muslim visitors. Then at the end of August 1967, the occupation forces exempted Jews from buying tickets to enter the premises and also controlled al-Magharibah Gate in a blatant violation of the real status quo regarding al-Aqsa Mosque when the Israeli Minister of Religions requested that the Awqaf surrender the keys to al-Magharibah gate; when the latter refused, Israeli occupation stormed the Awqaf offices on 31 August 1967 and took the keys by force. This was a clear message from the Awqaf to the world that it did not recognise the new measures in al-Aqsa and that it is a sacred place for Muslims and none other. Hence, the Israeli presence in al-Magharibah Gate remains lacking legitimacy and has formed a wedge in the sovereignty of the Awqaf over the Haram grounds till this very day.

Israel’s intentions towards al-Aqsa, at the formal level, were clear since the early days of the occupation of the Eastern part of Jerusalem.



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Israeli Army’s Rabbi Shlomo Goren said that the purpose behind entering the Haram premises was not only to liberate it from the hands of those he called “Foreigners”, but also to build the Temple as that location should be prepped for receiving the so-called Saviour - The Messiah son of David. He said that receiving the Saviour is now closer than before after the occupation of al-Aqsa, and in so announcing the plan to demolish al-Aqsa and build the Temple on its ruins.

Goren was among those who believed in storming al-Aqsa Mosque by Jews. He began by introducing the notion of building a synagogue inside al-Aqsa and emphasised on many occasions that the grounds of al-Aqsa are sacred to Jews as well as it forms the grounds of the Temple. Rabbi Goren was the first to storm al-Aqsa Mosque along with fifty Jews carrying a trumpet, a holy casket, a Torah, and a mobile podium where they prayed in the area out loud.

Goren was elected five years later as Israel’s grand Rabbi and stated that the restriction Israel has imposed on itself in preventing Jews from praying inside the Haram is considered a national threat, and demanded that a synagogue be built side-by-side the roofed mosques inside al-Aqsa.


Burning of the Southern Mosque in 1969

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Perhaps one of the most serious incidents involving al-Aqsa Mosque was when Australian Zionist Michael Dennis burned the Southern Mosque on 21 August 1969. Fire spread out through the eastern wing of the Mosque and destroyed it fully, including the historic pulpit of Saladin. The inhabitants of Jerusalem tried in vain to put out the fire, but the Israeli forces had cut off water from the area and impeded fire trucks from reaching the place. Israeli authorities then claimed the perpetrator was crazy and deported him to Australia without trial.

• Photograph showing the fire which broke out in the Southern Mosque in 1969.



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Sharon Storms Al-Aqsa in 2000

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Sharon’s storming of al-Aqsa in 2000 during the Cabinet of Ehud Barak showed the extent to which the Government is involved in the attacks on al-Aqsa by Jewish groups. This incursion by Sharon was a new official violation of the status quo of al-Aqsa as it occurred under the auspices of the Israeli government at the time. Israel committed a massacre during this incursion killing 7 Palestinians and wounding 250 others. It was this massacre which was the catalyst of the second Intifada which lasted till 2005 and in which 4412 Palestinians died and more than 48 thousand were wounded.

• Photograph showing Sharon’s storming of al-Aqsa Mosque



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• Photographs showing incursions


The Role of the Occupation in Encouraging Temple Movements

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The occupation is always good at playing with words and says that the “Temple Mount” is a holy place for Jews, and therefore does not recognise the guardianship of Jordan over all of the so-called Temple Mount (al-Aqsa Mosque); it only recognises the guardianship of Jordan on roofed structures inside al-Aqsa Mosque, which covers an area of 144000 meters of buildings in the walled area. Even with respect to the Dome of the Rock, Israel believes that it is the most sanctimonious, i.e. that it only recognises Jordan’s guardianship over the roofed mosque. But for the Palestinians, al-Aqsa is a national symbol connecting the Religious and the Sacrilegious. The Palestinians are supported by international resolutions and do not acknowledge the Jewish right to the so-called Temple Mt., nor do they recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem and consider these territories occupied as of 1967.

Religious conflict over al-Aqsa Mosque has led to bloodshed in the past and present and is one of the central problems that constitute an obstacle to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. When the status of al-Aqsa Mosque was put forward in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Oslo, Israel raised the possibility of granting Jews the right to pray in the Mosque, yet at no stage of the negotiations did the Palestinians show any willingness to compromise on the exclusive right of Muslims in the walled mosque on the grounds that Jerusalem is occupied territory, and that the Old Town and al-Aqsa belong to the Palestinians and is registered on the list of endangered World Heritage according to UNESCO resolutions.



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• Photographs showing incursions



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In recent years, increased Jewish activity existed inside al-Aqsa to enforce Israeli sovereignty through utilising military might, as well as through mobilising civil associations that support the erection of the Temple and the performance of prayers in al-Aqsa. These associations, known as the Temple Associations, receive government subsidies and have established a joint administrative council that aims at changing the standing orders in al-Aqsa to the favour of Jews. These associations, through their websites and activities, call directly for praying inside al-Aqsa, and for the erection of the 3rd Temple on the ruins of al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the expulsion of Muslims from al-Aqsa on the pretence that it is a sacred site for Jews.

Israeli excavations and construction plans in the area around the Mosque and under it constitute tangible evidence of Israel ‘sill-intentions to control al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings, not least because of the Zamoh or Jerusalem first scheme.

The Israeli government deliberately conceals its material aid to movements of the Temple, but the occupation does not hide its protection of these movements during their storming of al-Aqsa Mosque where Israeli police escort them inside the Mosque in a manner that provokes the feelings of the Palestinians. These groups are also accompanied by guides who explain that the Third Temple will be built where the Dome of the Rock currently stands.

Believers of these movements’ dogma have tried on several occasions to physically destroy Islamic lore both inside and in the vicinity of al-Aqsa Mosque so as to pave the way for the construction of the 3rd Temple and accelerate their ‘salvation’. During the past three decades,Temple movements have developed public and educational activities directed towards the same goal.

The Israeli government is fully aware of the ramifications of supporting Temple movements, which have developed an ideology whose epicentre is building the Third Temple. This goal for these movements is achievable, and changing the status quo for them is an interim goal,



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and the explosion of the situation in Jerusalem through the activities of these movements has become easy to predict.

At a time when Netanyahu accuses the Palestinians of incitement, facts show that those who incite are Netanyahu himself and other politicians. When Yehuda Gillick, one of the main supporters of the Temple, issued a pictorial book entitled, “Rise and Ascend”, calling for visiting al-Aqsa Mosque as the alleged ‘Temple’, Netanyahu hailed him and took pictures with him as he received his copy of the book. Gillick claims Netanyahu said he was, “not at ease regarding the negative and bad status of the Jews” during their “visits” at al-Aqsa.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tzipi Hobotboli, also said in an interview with Knesset satellite channel that the Israeli flag must be hoisted on al-Aqsa Mosque (the Temple Mount) as a symbol of sovereignty because Israel has sovereignty over the land, (Maariv 27 October 2015).

• Photograph of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receiving a copy of the book "Rise and Ascend."



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Examples on Government Support of Temple Movements:

According to the register of the public associations’ registrar, more than 19 different associations are officially registered and receive tax exemptions, and work actively to build the so-called Temple; these associations have built ritual baths, religious schools, synagogues, and prepared a model Temple.

At the forefront of these organisations is “Initiative for Jewish freedom in the Temple Mount - Hilba” or “Human Rights in the Temple Mount” and “the Heritage Fund of the Temple Mount and the Temple” led by Rabbi Yehuda Gillick, “Students Movement for the Temple” which includes seculars and religious, “Yaraiah -Volunteers encouraging ascending the Temple Mount”, “Returning to the Mountain”, “Women for the Temple”, “Trustees of the Temple” and other organisations which include all segments of Israeli society, in addition to colonial organisations that play a complementary role of these organisations such as the National Fund and the Elaad Organisation. These organisations also receive support through donation collections made in the US and EU through their offices there and benefit from tax exemptions and other advantages.

■ The Israeli government finances part of the activities of the Temple movements. In the past five years, the Ministry of Education provided support for the Temple Institute estimated at around 365 thousand USD, and the Ministry of Culture and Sport provided 210 thousand USD to one of the Institute’s branches.

■ On 30 October 2010, a conference was held in Jerusalem and was attended by thousands of religious Jews. It discussed offerings presented at the Temple, and at this



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conference a model of the Temple was presented in which the Dome of the Rock had disappeared from the scene. The conference was held under the auspices of Jerusalem Municipality.

■ Allowing these entities to carry out their extracurricular activities regarding the erection of the Temple at public schools, and organise 3 annual school visits to al-Aqsa mosque.

■ Organising visits for Israeli soldiers and security personnel to strengthen their so-called spiritual bond with the Temple.

• Photograph of Calls to storm Al-Aqsa



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Temple Mount & Land of IsraelFaithful Movement

In the ninth of the Hebrew month “AV” we all ascend to Temple Mount the heart of the nation for a national mourning day and for a protest on the Mount of God, which was handed over to the enemy and was defiled by ousting Jews from it, and for a protest against the destruction of the Third Temple which is brewed by Arab villains and thugs on Temple Mount, in the heart of Jerusalem and in a Jewish state in light of the silence of the Israeli Rabbis, the Chief of Rabbinate and the government!

• There was no such a disgrace in the history of the Israeli people!• Yeswewillgatheronthestatusof“lamentation”“tearing”andfight:• Againstanenemythatisdestroyinganddefilingtheremainsofour

Temple• Against erecting new mosques and against the Islamisation of our

holy Mount• AgainsttheflagsofHamasandISISontheTempleofGodwhichhas

been desecrated• Against banning Jewish prayer, Tallit (the Jewish prayer shawl) and

phylactery in our holy Mount • Against the silence of the people of Israel, the Rabbis and the leaders • For the oath “if we forget you…” that we have forgotten and against

the betrayal of the Mount of God by us• Wewillnotforgetandwillnevergiveup!wewillfight!• In the day of destruction we are all invited to the public struggle to

eradicate the control of the outlaws of Hamas and the Islamic movement over the Temple mount and to restore the Israeli sovereignty over the holymount.Ifwefightthedaywilldrawnearerwhenthedestructionday will turn into the day of building the Temple in our time.

• The status of this national emergency will be held under security forces protection…

• Every Jewish faithful to the people and the land of Israel are invited to participate in this emergency event. It is in our hand God willing to save the Temple Mount before Jerusalem falls next . in the Temple Mount, the destiny of the Israeli people will be determined.

• With the blessing of redeeming the Mmount, the land and the people• Temple Mount & land of Israel Faithful Movement

• Translation of the advert


Knesset Members and the Temple Movements

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On 26 July 2012 a conference on erecting the Temple, Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem, and granting the right of prayer to Jews in al-Aqsa Mosque was held for the first time inside the Knesset. The conference was an initiative of the right-wing Knesset member Michael Ben Ari under guidance of the Knesset member Arieh Eldad, both of the Temple lobby in the Knesset. Around 100 Rabbis participated in the conference and leaders of Temple movements were allowed to speak, including extremist Yehuda Etzion. In 1995, Netanyahu sent an official letter to Etzion, which stated: “I have read your letter carefully. The right of the Jewish people in the Temple Mount is irrevocable. It’s my opinion that Jews should be granted the right to pray there, i.e. Temple Mt. … It is clear that we must address the matter with the required sensitivity when we come to that decision.”

• photo Call for Storming al-Aqsa, the expulsion of Muslims and enforcing Israeli sovereignty



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The statements of some Knesset members also confirms their close relationship with Temple movements. Among these statements were MK Yuli Edelstein’s, who said, “My job is the daily process to connect and prepare the people of Israel for the construction of the temple.” MK Tzipi Habotboli said, “Building a temple on Temple Mount must symbolise the renewed Israeli sovereignty to the people at home .... We have to strengthen our control in the Temple Mount as part of strengthening our control in the whole land of Israel”. Knesset members Zeev Elkin, Daniel Herkovic, Aitaniial Hinleyr, and Zevulun Orlev suggested that al-Aqsa Mosque be divided temporally and spatially as is the case in the Ibrahimi Mosque.

Recently, calls for the division of al-Aqsa Mosque have echoed at all levels, as has happened with al-Ibrahimi Mosque.

The Ibrahimi Mosque was divided after the massacre committed by Jewish terrorist Baruch Goldstein on 25 February 1994 when he attacked worshipers and opened fire on them while performing dawn prayers, killing 29 and wounding 15 others before worshippers pounced on him and killed him. On the same day, Israeli soldiers killed 31 Palestinians outside the Mosque.

• Translation of the advert



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After the massacre was over, Israeli soldiers present in the Mosque closed its doors to prevent worshipers from escaping, and they prevented Palestinians coming to rescue the wounded from entering its courtyard.

The Israeli occupation formed a commission of inquiry named after its chairman Judge Shamgar, and resulted in the first decision for dividing al-Ibrahimi Mosque into two parts: the section labelled Alishakiyah and Aljawliyah praying hall constituting 40% of the area of the mosque for Muslims and the rest of the mosque (60%)for Jews and featuring the Jacobite, Abrahamic, and Yusufi Chamber and Mosque courtyard; they put in place electronic gates, and imposed restrictions on the entrance of worshippers. In Jewish festivals, the entire Mosque becomes at the disposal of the Jews and Muslim are denied access thereof. Access for Muslims in the regular days is very difficult as settlers have not only taken control of the Mosque, but also of important junctures within the Old Town in Hebron. The project of dividing al-Ibrahimi grounds started unofficially on 12 July 1972 when the occupation forces took control of the Abrahamic Chamber and transformed it into a Jewish synagogue. Then on 31 October 1972, the military ruler decided to include the Jacobite Chamber as a prayer location in addition to its former, then the courtyard of the mosque was roofed, i.e. the area between the Abrahamic and Jacobite chambers.

Based on the painful experience and status quo imposed on al-Ibrahimi Mosque, several laws on the spatial and temporal division of al-Aqsa were put forward to ensure the “freedom of Jews to pray at al-Aqsa,” particularly in the Interior Committee, headed by Likud Miri Regev.

On May 2014, Regev sent a draft bill for the division of al-Aqsa to Knesset members and asked them to support the bill and sign it. She said in the proposal introduction that, “there is no law in the State of Israel that prevents Jews from ascending Temple Mt. or praying therein as to prevent such must come via the Supreme Court. The Court usually specifies the time for ascending the mountain and ties it to Israeli police’s decision who usually prevent it claiming that danger



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prospects are too grave. Many Jews wish to ascend Temple Mt. and some also wish to pray there.”

These draft bills, although not adopted in the Knesset, are an indication that the Israeli government has stepped up its stance in recent years to make the division a fait accompli.

In September 2015, the Israeli government used the pretence of Jewish holidays to impose closure of the Mosque on Palestinians from 7:30 - 11:30 am so that Israelis may pray at al-Aqsa Mosque. It has also imposed restrictions on Palestinians within a certain age to enter the Mosque. On 10 September 2015 occupation defence minister, Moshe Ya’alon, issued a decree prohibiting what he called “The al-Aqsa defenders league and education rings” for their effective role in confronting Israeli government and settlers’ daily violations against the Mosque.

The decision of the Minister is misleading as these Palestinians act in their individual capacity and are not organised in a group. They conduct these vigils voluntarily by being present at al-Aqsa for prayer and for learning, as well as to confront Israeli groups that storm al-Aqsa.

On 17 November 2015, Security Minister Moshe Ya’alon, issued a decision prohibiting the north wing of the Islamic movement in implementation of the decision taken by the Israeli government. Their headquarters and affiliate institutions were raided, particularly those concerned with the affairs of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, and confiscated their contents and sealed them with wax. This occurred after Israel accused the Islamic Movement of inciting violence; yet these charges are void of truth. The Israeli government actually finds the peaceful projects of the Islamic Movement that aim at preserving the status quo of al-Aqsa as hurdles facing its plans for overtaking the Mosque.



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• Photograph showing the tunnels, excavations, and buildings.


Zamoh Scheme as Further Evidence on Israeli Insistence to Change the Status Quo

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Kidimir Yeroshalaim scheme (Jerusalem First) or Zamoh scheme as it is called – as an embodiment of the Jewish dream - included most of the projects aimed at the Judisation of the Old City. Other projects are important too but are only considered partial projects in the servitude of this grand project. The occupation has embarked on a re-production scheme “Kidim Yeroshalaim” or what is known as Zamoh scheme and its implementation after making modifications to the basic plan revealed in 2007. The plan includes: the area between Mount of Olives - the Jewish Quarter, the centre of the Christian Quarter and Silwan until Herod’s Gate (al-Sahira). The areas targeted in the plan are:

City of David, the cemetery, Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley garden, Valley of the Kings, Jahannam Valley garden (pond Sultan and south), yard of the so-called Wailing Wall (al-Buraq), the Court Building (Altinkzi School), Aovl garden (Aldohour Hill), the so-called Temple Mount area (al-Aqsa Mosque), the Islamic cemetery area (Gate of Mercy Cemetery) to the east of al-Aqsa Mosque and the slope of the Lions Gate, the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter, Cave of Solomon area, access roads between neighbourhoods down to the Holy Basin, the road between Hebron Gate till al-Magharibah Gate in the Wall, Jericho road al-Magharibah Gate, car park in the so-called Jewish Quarter, City of David car park (Givati Park) and Mount Zion (Prophet David).


The main points of the Plan:

■ Removing the entire al-Magharibah Gate road.

■ Opening an external gate leading to al-Buraq prayer grounds, one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s prayer areas, in order to turn it into a synagogue.

■ Erecting the largest synagogue in the world at the expense of one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s buildings - a historic building known as the Altinkzi School or the Court as known at a later stage.

■ Digging a tunnel under the Marwani prayer area into al-Aqsa Mosque.

■ Opening of the triple door triple in the southern wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enable Jews to enter the Marwani prayer area and turning it into a synagogue, and opening the single door in the southern wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enable Jews to enter al-Aqsa Mosque and turn it into a synagogue.

■ Digging a tunnel under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque towards the inside of al-Aqsa Mosque so that it may become a way for the occupation’s Special Forces to storm the Mosque and eliminate the so-called Muslim riots.

■ Digging up ancient Muslim graves in the Mercy cemetery adjacent to the eastern wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to erect a large suspended train station that connects al-Aqsa Mosque to the Jewish Cemetery located in Mount of Olives, and digging a tunnel under the Mercy Cemetery to be used as a ground passage.



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■ Continuation of excavations under al-Aqsa Mosque on the pretence of archaeological efforts aimed at uncovering the alleged ruins of the Second Temple, located as they claim between the Dome of the Rock and the forefront (Qibli) prayer hall.

■ The demolition of dozens of houses in Jerusalem in the town of Silwan, adjacent to the southern wall of al-Aqsa Mosque, and building settlements instead.

■ Building a number of tunnels and bridges in the vicinity of al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly along the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.


Summary and Recommendations

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■ United Nations’ resolutions on the Occupied Territories consider the eastern part of Jerusalem as occupied territory and do not recognise all measures taken by all political, cultural, and religious levels, and consider all changes enacted by Israel annulled.

■ The original status quo before 1967 has changed due to the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and of al-Aqsa Mosque. The occupation is the origin of the problem and the cause of conflict in the city, and hence the Israeli occupation shall bear all consequences of what occurs there.

■ The practices of Netanyahu and his Cabinet, as well as those of Israeli Knesset members against al-Aqsa Mosque are all attempts to legitimise the status quo to change the existing one -the policy followed in all occupied territories, and are a desperate attempt to come up with a false historical legacy that connects the Israeli occupation to the holy city.

■ Kerry’s latest understandings are another desperate attempt to legitimise Israeli infractions on the status quo prior to 1967, and these violations still occur till this very day. Instead of highlighting the core of the problem which is the occupation, there was talk of installing cameras inside al-Aqsa Mosque!



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■ The governments of Israel, since their occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 all the way through the Wadi Araba Accord and till the understandings of Kerry, has proven to defy international law and to not recognise the full guardianship of Jordan over the Islamic holy sites; and the Israeli interpretation of the guardianship of Jordan that it only covers the two roofed mosques, i.e. Dome of the Rock and the Forefront (Qibli) Mosque, and practically does not recognise the Jordanian oversight of al-Aqsa Yards, as there have been frequent official Israeli statements that the squares of al-Aqsa are the squares of Temple Mount and are holy to Jews in their view and are at the disposal of Jerusalem Municipality.

■ The current and previous Israeli governments are actual partners of the Temple Movements who seek to destroy al-Aqsa Mosque; therefore the international community must condemn Israel’s actions which are the basis of incitement.

■ Storming of al-Aqsa grounds and the scheme for dividing it are widely supported in the Israeli society, so it is not simply a matter to do with extremists only or with the Zealous.

■ The international community did not pick up on lessons from past events, and is silent regarding the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians along religious and racial bases, and in spite of the seriousness of the Israeli approach which threatens the ignition of a religious war, the international community has still not taken any concrete measures to halt Israeli crimes.


References

■ http: / /www.elmessir i .com/encyclopedia/JEWISH/ENCYCLOPID/MG6/GZ1/BA4/MD08.HTM.

■ Uzi Benziman, Jerusalem, the City without a Wall, Arabic, translated by Mohammed Madi.

■ Ir Amim, (2013), Dangerous Conection: Empowerment dynamics of the Temple Movements in Israel and its implications, Hebrew.

■ Larry Derfner (31.10.2014), The fraud that is the Temple Mount movement. http://972mag.com/the-fraud-that-is-the-temple-mount-movement/98250/.

■ Abdulaziz Alsayyid Ahmed; Nawwaf Azzarou, Hebron, A Struggle between Judisation and Liberation (2001 ver.) International Arab Est. Pages 181-202, ISBN 9957-411-05-5.

■ Al-Aqsa association for Waqf and Heritage, (2007), Report.

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