PA Jerusalem Council: Ribat is a "form of worship" and a "religious duty"

     “The Supreme Muslim Council and the [PA’s] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places stressed their firm opposition to the occupation’s proposed law, which prohibits Ribat (religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It should be noted that the occupation authorities are attempting to pass a law prohibiting ‘Ribat’ at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that this ‘law’ considers those who carry out Ribat lawbreakers! In a joint statement obtained by our correspondent in Jerusalem, the two Councils emphasized that ‘Ribat’ is a form of worship, and that the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunna (i.e., Islamic tradition) attest to its legality and encourage it. Therefore, those who carry out Ribat at the Al-Aqsa Mosque are performing a religious ritual… The statement emphasized that ‘the steps [taken by] the occupation authorities regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially regarding Ribat, are null and void, and that they are an attack on our firm Islamic rights, which were granted by divine decree. This is unacceptable; and we will not allow it.’
In addition, the statement noted that ‘the occupation has placed signs on the outer gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, bearing foreign Hebrew names and terms, which have nothing to do with the Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ The statement emphasized the ‘rejection of the Hebrew names and terms that are foreign to the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque – foreign Judaizing names that distort the eternal truth, according to which this place is sacred to Muslims alone, and we will not accept or recognize them!’ The statement called for the removal of the signs the occupation placed on the outer gates. The statement clarified that ‘It is forbidden for any authority or individual to intervene in our Islamic religious affairs.’
In addition, [the Councils] emphasized that ‘the Jews have no right to even a single grain of earth at the Al-Aqsa Mosque,’ and that ‘the occupation authorities are attempting to falsify and distort the facts regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.’ At the end of their joint statement, the [Supreme] Muslim Council and [Islamic-Christian] Council for [Jerusalem and] the Holy Places stressed that those engaging in ‘Ribat’ would continue to fulfill their religious duty, and would remain at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is filled with male and female Muslims who carry out Ribat, despite the occupation’s violations!”

Note: “Murabitin” law – In November 2014, Israel’s Public Security Ministry and defense establishment promoted a bill to declare illegal the organization of Palestinian guards stationed on the Temple Mount to prevent Jews from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. These guards, known in Arabic as Murabitin (those carrying out Ribat, religious conflict/war to protect land claimed to be Islamic), have repeatedly clashed with Israeli police and Jewish worshippers in recent years.