Dear All,
This was the very incident that led to the 'Second Intifada' on September 28, 2000 & also rightly called the 'Al-Aqsa Intifada'. After the failure of the Oslo accords, where in the name of a 'Peace Process' the Palestinian people could see very little 'peace' but could see the 'pieces' of their land being taken over by the Settlements. The anger & the sheer frustration of he masses finally erupted when Ariel Sharon (The Zionist Hitler & then there are Netanyahu, Olmert, Barak Lieberman as well . . . the list is far too long) went up to the Haram-i-Sharif to reclaim the site of the Masjid-i-Aqsa & the Qubbatus Sakhra (Dome of the Rock) for the Third Temple.
'Mandir Wahi Banayenge' (We will build our Temple at the very spot) was the war cry of the Brahmanical Hindutva stormtroopers when they demolished the Babri Masjid on the 6th of December 1992 & now we have a similar war cry in Jerusalem, that is getting stronger every passing year since 1967 & even prior since it has always been part of the religious Zionist imagery.
Those who still tend to understand the complexities of the Palestine-Israel imbroglio in uni-focal & simplistic terms, need to go back in history (ONE PALESTINE COMPLETE by TOM SEGEV would be a very good start) to trace the religious underpinnings, even within the British Empire that led to the creation of Israel. Undoubtedly the various political & economic factors that were also intrinsic to the Imperial agenda are a part of the entire myriad of our discourse.
This is especially addressed to those friends of our who are well meaning atheists communists, socialists or plain old human rights activists. This is the same section that committed a major error in India, in understanding religion & we cannot afford to again make the same 'Himalayan blunder' in Palestine.
Those of us who understand that the Palestine-Israel conflict is the central geo-political crisis of our times & thus are engaged in the struggle for a just solution that includes both the Palestinian & the Jewish people, need to understand certain basic 'facts':
The issues of Nationalism & Religion are interwoven along with political & economic issues. In fact Christian Zionism arose form the theological crisis within European Protestant Christianity whilst Jewish Zionism arose from both Christian Zionism as well the Judeophobia prevalent in European Christendom.
Thus Israel & Zionism are now the new God's of the Judeo-Christian civilization. Israel & Zionism have replaced the moral & ethical teachings of the Torah & the Talmud, whilst Christian Zionism has replaced the centrality of Jesus - by Israel. The sad irony of it all.
It was in fact Jesus Christ who had done away with the doctrine of the 'Jews as the chosen people of God', having replaced that tribalistic concept, with a Universalist & Humanistic, loving & merciful 'God of all Creation' & also having fought for the rights of women within religion & society.
Both Israel & Zionism have chosen Islam & Muslims as their target & thus the strategy of Islamophobia & the demonization of the Muslim community is part of their larger global strategy.
Thus at it's roots, this is not a civil war within the Abrahamic faiths or a war between Judaism, Islam & Christianity - this is our common struggle against Zionism & Imperialism.
In Solidarity
Feroze Mithiborwala
0091-9820897517
Muslims Repulse Jewish Attempt to Storm Al-Aqsa
9/28/2009
By Khalid Amayreh
http://palestinefreevoice.blogspot.com/
Dozens of Palestinians were hurt, two seriously, on Sunday, September 27, when crack Israeli policemen attacked worshipers who had just repulsed an attempt by Jewish extremists to hold Talmudic rituals at al-Haram al-Sharif.
"When the zealots were repulsed rather peacefully, the police became very outraged," Mahmoud Abu Atta, an eyewitness, told IslamOnline.net.
"As many as 70 policemen attacked us indiscriminately, young and old, with full force, using rubber-coated bullets, truncheons, tear gas and even poisonous gas."
An elderly man, identified as 73-year-old Muhammed Joulani, was hit with a rubber-coated bullet in the eye and his condition was described as "very serious."A young Palestinian, 22, was badly hurt in the head.
Dozens others suffered from tear gas inhalation as well as brutal beating by police which, eyewitnesses said, employed "exaggerated force."Eyewitnesses said tension began when dozens of Jewish religious zealots, disguised as tourists, stealthily entered Aqsa esplanade through its western gate, known as Bab el-Majles.
The intruders soon began, under police protection, performing Talmudic rites and making slogans calling for the destruction of the Islamic holy shrine.Muslim guards as well as ordinary worshipers chased the Jewish zealots out.
"The police chased worshipers inside Aqsa Mosque, where the soldiers fired heavily into the holy place, causing many people to suffocate as a result of gas inhalation," said Atta."I saw the police gang up on young people, beating them mercilessly. The police were not out to maintain law and order. They just wanted to retaliate and punish us for repulsing the fanatical settlers."
Atta said the worshipers sought desperately to defend themselves against police brutality, using little stones, shoes and chairs.Efforts by Jewish zealots to storm the Aqsa Mosque esplanade coincide with Yom Kippur holiday or Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.It coincides with then opposition leader Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to al-Aqsa esplanade nine years ago which sparked off the al-Aqsa Intifada.
Muslim Duty; "Hence it is the responsibility of the entire Umma to protect and safeguard this holy place from Zionist plots and evil designs," Sheikh Sabri told IOL. Muslim officials in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) had earlier called on Muslims throughout the city to go to al-Haram al-Sharif to protect it from Jewish fanatics trying to gain a foot-hold.
"We constantly urge Muslims here to maintain a permanent and uninterrupted presence at the Aqsa Mosque," Dr. Sheikh Ikrma Sabri, the imam of Aqsa Mosque, told IOL.Hundreds of Jerusalemites and other Muslims from across the Green Line (Israel) arrived at the Mosque to repulse the zealots.
Confrontations broke out near Bab el-Majles when Israeli police prevented hundreds of Muslims, including leaders of the Islamic movement, from entering the Haram compound.Many were detained and taken away to nearby police lockups.
Israeli police also assaulted Abdul Azim Salhab, head of the Supreme Muslim Council, as he was trying to enter al-Haram al-Sharif through the northern Gate, known as Bab el Asbat.They also prevented a number of prominent Muslim religious and civic figures from entering the Aqsa esplanade, including Dr. Sheikh Sabri.Hatem Abdul Qader, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was also barred from entering the Haram.
"The preservation of Aqsa Mosque is not the sole responsibility of Muslims in Palestine, because the holy sanctuary belongs to the entire Muslim Umma," insisted Sheikh Sabri."Hence it is the responsibility of the entire Umma to protect and safeguard this holy place from Zionist plots and evil designs."Al-Aqsa is the Muslims' first Qiblah [the direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
It's significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).The Supreme Muslim Council of Al-Quds earlier issued a call on Muslims around the world urging them to stand firm in the face of Israel's criminal conspiracies against Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli religious leaders, including Knesset members, are making no secret of their schemes regarding Al-Aqsa.The Temple Mount Faithful, an extremist fanatical group, is dedicated to the demolition of Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
The Temple Mount Institute, another extremist Jewish society, had prepared detailed plans for the rebuilding of the so-called Solomon Temple on the rubble of Al-Aqsa.It has a large prototype of the temple, special clothes for its rabbis, special places for sacrificial offerings, incense chalice, copper vessels for meal offerings, silver vessel for wine libation and other offering implements.
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Israeli police interrogate Al-Aqsa preacher
Wednesday 30/09/2009
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=228576
Sheikh Ekrima SabriJerusalem – Ma'an – Israeli police interrogated Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, chief of the Islamic Supreme Committee, and preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday afternoon over possible charges of incitement and disturbing public order.
The interrogation came after Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters at the Al-Aqsa Compound on Sunday after Israeli settlers were reported entering the sensitive holy site.
Sheikh Sabri said that he was interrogated at the Russian Compound prison in Jerusalem from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday. "They falsely accused me of inciting Palestinian youths to hurl stone at Israeli police officers. They also questioned why I called Palestinian citizens to head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
He added that his interrogators played recordings of news reports in which he had been interviewed commenting on the events at Al-Aqsa.
Sheikh Sabri accused Israeli police of allowing extremist settlers to access the Al-Aqsa compound, and then protecting them while inside. He said the intrusion was a violation of the mosque's sanctity. He said that to protect the settlers, Israeli police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at worshippers.
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Al-Aqsa, the ultimate red line Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:10 Khalid Amayreh
http://www.therebel.org/opinion/middle_east/al-aqsa,_the_ultimate_red_line_2009092960760/
The unprovoked intrusion by Jewish fanatics into the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem on Sunday 27 September, should alarm every Muslim under the sun.
That was not, as the Israeli machine of lies would make you believe, a mere innocent visit by Jewish tourists to Islam's third holiest sanctuary. It was rather a planned and calculated act of provocation against Muslims all over the world.
Jewish fanatics, we all know, don't come to the Aqsa esplanade to visit; they come for the purpose of arrogating a foot-hold or perhaps hatching a conspiracy against Islamic edifices. In short, their ultimate goal is to carry out acts of terror and vandalism against Islamic holy places.
In the past, distant and near, Jewish terrorists, who often disguise themselves as tourists, carried out acts of murder against Muslim worshipers.
When Israel occupied the Old City of Jerusalem, the Israeli army Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren tried meticulously to convince one commander of the conquering army to blow up the Aqsa Mosque "once and for all."
The story was mentioned elaborately in Avi Shlaim's book "The Iron Wall-Israel and the Arab world."
"There was an atmosphere of spiritual elation. Paratroopers were milling around in a daze. Narkis was standing for a moment on his own, deep in thought, when Goren went up to him and said `Uzi, this is the time to put a hundred kilograms of explosives in the Mosque of Omar-and that's it, we'll get rid of it once and for all.' Narkis said `Rabbi, stop it.' Goren then said to him, `Uzi, you'll enter the history books by virtue of this deed.' Narkis replied, `I have already recorded my name in the pages of the history of Jerusalem.' Goren walked away without saying another word."
On 21 August, 1969, an Australian Christian Zionist, bearing the name Denis Michael Rohan, set the Minbar of Sallahuddin on fire, using a flamable substance.
On April 11, 1982, a Jewish terrorist by the name of Allan Goodman entered the Dome of the Rock Mosque and started firing discriminately at Muslim worshipers, killing and injuring dozens of people. Goodman, a member of the terrorist Jewish group, the Jewish Defense League, was eventually pardoned by the Israeli government after spending a few years in jail.
In fact, Jewish terrorist acts and designs against one of Islam's holiest places never ceased. Indeed, Jewish terrorist groups declare openly that their ultimate aim is to demolish the Aqsa Mosque in order to build a Jewish temple in the area.
The terroirsts, who also include government officials and Knesset members, are never arrested for incitement to violence and terror. Far from that, they enjoy the support and backing of the political-military estabilshment in the Zionist regime.
Hence, it is imperative that the Muslim world must view the latest events with utmost gravity because what these fanatics are after is nothing less than the destruction of these holy places.
As in the past, Muslim officials and governmetns have voiced their indignation at the latest provocation. However, verbal denunciations and condemnations will not deter Israel and make her show respect to the Haram al Sharif of Jerusalem.
Respect for religion is not and has never been a Zionist character. Hence, it would be more than naive to expect Israel to preserve the safety and sanctity of the holy place.
Instead of rehtorical condemnations, which we got accustomed to hearing since time immemorial, Muslim organizations, peoples and governments must seek pro-active means to protect their holy places.
First, we must strengthen and enforce security measures throughout the Aqsa esplanade by increasing the number of guards. It was after all due to the dedication and hard workd of these unknown soldiers that numerous Zionist attempts at vandalizing Islamic holy places were aborted and thwarted.
Second, Muslim states, especially those having diplomatic ties with the Zionist regime such as Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, must make the issue of the Haram al Sharif a top priority. It is not enough just to voice "concern" about a given event, such as Sunday's provocation. Muslim governments must commnnicate an unequivocal message to the Zionist regime that the Aqsa Mosque is a red line that no one would be allowed to cross.
As to the Palestinians, they are the first line of defense against Zionist aggression in Jerusalem as well as throughout occupied Palestine.
This is why, Palestinians must always maintain a permanent and uninterrupted presence at the Haram al Sharif of Jerusalem.
This peaceful presence is very important; it sends an unmistakable message to the Zionists that Muslims, especially in Palestine, would go to any extent, if need be, to protect and safeguard their holy places in al-Quds al Sharif.
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