Abbas: Jerusalem must be “purely Arab”, “no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem”; Israel planning to “establish alleged Temple”
Headline: “In a speech that he gave on behalf of the [PA] president at the start of the Second National Forum for Scientists in Palestine – Abd Al-Rahim: Jerusalem is our political Qiblah, there will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem”
Excerpt of the full speech of Secretary-General of the PA Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, given on behalf of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the opening of the Second National Forum for Scientists in Palestine
“You know that the Palestinian leadership yesterday [July 22, 2017] held a meeting… in order to discuss the current situation and formulate appropriate solutions to deal with the developments. As far as we’re concerned, Jerusalem is our political Qiblah (i.e., the direction for Muslim prayer, Mecca)… to which our compass will not cease to point, no matter what the sacrifices may be. There will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem, and Jerusalem must be purely Arab for its Muslims and Christians. We will not agree to Jewish rule or sovereignty over it.
Recently we have felt – and there is confirmed information on the matter – that there are intentions and plans to turn Jerusalem into a unified city and the capital of the occupation state, and that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who possesses the Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) mentality, stands firm on this plan…
My brothers, [Israel] forcing sovereignty on Jerusalem is an old plan for these followers of the Talmud. I tell you that this is not about a division [between Jews and Muslims] according to [prayer] times or areas in Jerusalem (sic., on the Temple Mount), but rather it is a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple, which they are talking about now in the most open manner and with the utmost recklessness and insolence.”
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"Division according to areas and times" refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount, what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The law seeks to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews.
However, Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, which means Jews are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but cannot pray there or engage in any type of worship.
Excerpt of the full speech of Secretary-General of the PA Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, given on behalf of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the opening of the Second National Forum for Scientists in Palestine
“You know that the Palestinian leadership yesterday [July 22, 2017] held a meeting… in order to discuss the current situation and formulate appropriate solutions to deal with the developments. As far as we’re concerned, Jerusalem is our political Qiblah (i.e., the direction for Muslim prayer, Mecca)… to which our compass will not cease to point, no matter what the sacrifices may be. There will be no Palestinian state whose capital is not Jerusalem, and Jerusalem must be purely Arab for its Muslims and Christians. We will not agree to Jewish rule or sovereignty over it.
Recently we have felt – and there is confirmed information on the matter – that there are intentions and plans to turn Jerusalem into a unified city and the capital of the occupation state, and that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who possesses the Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) mentality, stands firm on this plan…
My brothers, [Israel] forcing sovereignty on Jerusalem is an old plan for these followers of the Talmud. I tell you that this is not about a division [between Jews and Muslims] according to [prayer] times or areas in Jerusalem (sic., on the Temple Mount), but rather it is a step on the way to establishing the alleged Temple, which they are talking about now in the most open manner and with the utmost recklessness and insolence.”
Click to view bulletin
"Division according to areas and times" refers to a proposed law (May 2013) being reviewed in Israeli Parliament that would allow for both Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount, what the Palestinians call the Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza. The law seeks to designate separate prayer times and areas of the site for Muslims and Jews.
However, Israeli PM Netanyahu has stated on many occasions that the Israeli government has no intention of changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, which means Jews are allowed to enter the Temple Mount, but cannot pray there or engage in any type of worship.
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