Just imagine if this were a synagogue in say
Iran (which has the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside
Israel). Dozens of security forces invade the place of worship, fire tear
gas and stun grenades, injure a number of worshippers and cause much
destruction.
Iran (which has the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside
Israel). Dozens of security forces invade the place of worship, fire tear
gas and stun grenades, injure a number of worshippers and cause much
destruction.
What
would be the reaction? Many people would undoubtedly start drawing an
analogy with Krystalnacht, the Nazi pogrom in Germany in November 1938.
People would undoubtedly cry ‘anti-Semitism’ and quite rightly so.
We would have Obama, Cameron and other hypocrites decrying this attack on
the right to worship of peaceful Jews. Yet what is the reaction to what
Israel has done? Nothing, except silence.
would be the reaction? Many people would undoubtedly start drawing an
analogy with Krystalnacht, the Nazi pogrom in Germany in November 1938.
People would undoubtedly cry ‘anti-Semitism’ and quite rightly so.
We would have Obama, Cameron and other hypocrites decrying this attack on
the right to worship of peaceful Jews. Yet what is the reaction to what
Israel has done? Nothing, except silence.
Of
course none of this excuses the murderous Saudi regime, busy slaughtering
fellow Muslims in Yemen and causing an utter human rights catastrophe there.
They are supposed to be the protectors of Muslim places of worship but in
practice their only concern is how best to loot Arab oil wealth and keep their
own population and migrant workers under the thumb.
course none of this excuses the murderous Saudi regime, busy slaughtering
fellow Muslims in Yemen and causing an utter human rights catastrophe there.
They are supposed to be the protectors of Muslim places of worship but in
practice their only concern is how best to loot Arab oil wealth and keep their
own population and migrant workers under the thumb.
Tony
Greenstein
Israeli forces, right-wingers storm Aqsa Mosque
compound
July 26, 2015 10:04
A.M. (Updated: July 27, 2015 5:42 P.M.)
A.M. (Updated: July 27, 2015 5:42 P.M.)
(MaanImages)
JERUSALEM
(Ma’an) — Israeli forces broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Sunday
morning firing stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at Muslim
worshipers as they cleared way for right-wing Jews who were visiting the
compound to mark a Jewish fast day, witnesses said.
 |
| Uri Ariel MK from Jewish Home was allegedly one of the invaders |
Dozens
of Palestinian worshipers were reportedly hit with rubber-coated
bullets and suffered excessive tear gas inhalation, while Israeli police
officers were reported to have attacked worshipers with pepper spray,
rods and rifle butts.
of Palestinian worshipers were reportedly hit with rubber-coated
bullets and suffered excessive tear gas inhalation, while Israeli police
officers were reported to have attacked worshipers with pepper spray,
rods and rifle butts.
At least three Palestinians were reportedly detained.
The
officers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate, Chain Gate and
Hutta Gate and clashed with worshipers, witnesses said, before Israeli
soldiers then shut down the compound’s gates with chains.
officers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate, Chain Gate and
Hutta Gate and clashed with worshipers, witnesses said, before Israeli
soldiers then shut down the compound’s gates with chains.
Israeli
soldiers also reportedly stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque itself and fired
rubber-coated bullets inside the holy site. The compound’s Palestinian
security guards were assaulted and prevented from moving, witnesses
said.
soldiers also reportedly stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque itself and fired
rubber-coated bullets inside the holy site. The compound’s Palestinian
security guards were assaulted and prevented from moving, witnesses
said.
Israeli police claimed that they entered the mosque
after “masked rioters” threw stones at them, “with the aim of preventing
further injury to police.”
after “masked rioters” threw stones at them, “with the aim of preventing
further injury to police.”
Israeli media reported that four police officers were injured, with two moved to hospital for treatment.
As the clashes subsided, right-wing Jews began to make their way into the compound in groups via the Moroccan gate.
Israel’s
minister of agriculture, Uri Ariel, was reportedly among the
right-wingers to tour the compound under heavy police escort. Ariel is a
member of Naftali Bennett’s ultra-right Jewish Home party.
minister of agriculture, Uri Ariel, was reportedly among the
right-wingers to tour the compound under heavy police escort. Ariel is a
member of Naftali Bennett’s ultra-right Jewish Home party.
(Islamic Endowment)
(MaanImages)
Israeli
police said that a young Jewish man on Sunday attempted to enter while
wearing phylacteries — small leather boxes containing sacred texts worn
by Orthodox men at prayer.
When told to remove them, the
man resisted and grabbed hold of railings, biting a policeman who tried
to remove him before he was arrested.
Sunday marked Tisha
B’Av, an annual Jewish fast day that commemorates the destruction of the
First and Second Jewish Temples. The fast day is considered the saddest
day in the Jewish calendar.
B’Av, an annual Jewish fast day that commemorates the destruction of the
First and Second Jewish Temples. The fast day is considered the saddest
day in the Jewish calendar.
Earlier in the morning, Israeli forces imposed strict restrictions on entry of Palestinians Muslim worshipers into the compound.
Witnesses
said that at dawn, Israeli officers allowed only women and men over the
age of 50 to enter the compound. After 6:30 a.m. all Palestinians were
reportedly denied entry.
said that at dawn, Israeli officers allowed only women and men over the
age of 50 to enter the compound. After 6:30 a.m. all Palestinians were
reportedly denied entry.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has
seen rising tensions in recent days, with Jewish organizations calling
for the compound to be open to Jews for the week after Tisha B’Av and
others seeking to celebrate unconfirmed reports that Israel is
negotiating the reopening of the compound to non-Muslim worship.
seen rising tensions in recent days, with Jewish organizations calling
for the compound to be open to Jews for the week after Tisha B’Av and
others seeking to celebrate unconfirmed reports that Israel is
negotiating the reopening of the compound to non-Muslim worship.
At
the end of June, International Crisis Group reported discussions
between Israel and the Islamic Endowment that controls the mosque
compound on allowing non-Muslim worship at the site, although the move
has not yet been confirmed.
the end of June, International Crisis Group reported discussions
between Israel and the Islamic Endowment that controls the mosque
compound on allowing non-Muslim worship at the site, although the move
has not yet been confirmed.
The third holiest site in
Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is also venerated as Judaism’s most
holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples
once stood.
Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is also venerated as Judaism’s most
holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples
once stood.
Following Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem
in 1967, Israel has maintained an agreement with the Islamic Endowment
not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area.
in 1967, Israel has maintained an agreement with the Islamic Endowment
not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area.
Jewish prayer is allowed at the neighboring Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Second Temple.
However, Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to Al-Aqsa, leading to anger among Muslim worshipers.
The
last time Israeli police entered the mosque itself, in November last
year, Jordan — one of the very few Arab states with diplomatic
relations with Israel — recalled its ambassador.
last time Israeli police entered the mosque itself, in November last
year, Jordan — one of the very few Arab states with diplomatic
relations with Israel — recalled its ambassador.
AFP contributed to this report.
Posted in Blog
