PA Mufti condemns “alleged Temple organizations” requests to visit the Temple Mount as “threats to invade”; refer to visits as trying to “defile” the Al-Aqsa Mosque
Headline: “The occupation’s minister of agriculture invades the Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied by a number of settlers”
“[Israeli] occupation Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday [May 19, 2019] accompanied by a group of 17 settlers…
The [PA] Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the one called the ‘minister of agriculture’ in the occupation government, in clear defiance of the sensibilities of the Muslims in Palestine and in the Islamic world during the month of Ramadan…
[PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories and preacher at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque Muhammad Hussein condemned the occupation police officers’ attempt to invade the old house of prayer inside the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque with their shoes on in order to pursue the worshippers – a clearly aggressive action that harms the sanctity of the mosque and the security of its visitors, and opens the door wide to disturbances at its plazas…
The mufti condemned the threats made by those called the alleged ‘Temple organizations’ regarding their intent to invade the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the last days of the month of Ramadan, and more precisely on June 2 [2019], while using what the occupation calls ‘Jerusalem Day’ (an Israeli national holiday marking the liberation of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War –Ed.) as a pretext. He emphasized that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque will be a fortified wall against anyone who is tempted to defile its plazas…
He again called to go up to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to support it and defend it in the shadow of this dangerous and systematic blow.”
Muhammad Hussein also holds the following positions: Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council Chairman, and Deputy Secretary-General and acting Secretary-General of the PLO Popular National Conference of Jerusalem.
Break-in/Invasion/attack of Al-Aqsa Mosque - The PA and its leaders misrepresent all of the Temple Mount as an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore, they vilify any presence of Jews on the mount as an "invasion." It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police ban Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount because of threats of violence by Palestinians.
“Temple organizations” refer to religious Jewish movements including the Temple Mount Institute, the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, the Initiative for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount, and Students for the Temple Mount, which spread awareness of the importance of the Temple Mount in Judaism and encourage people to visit the site.