Israel in “hidden war” to “overturn Jerusalem’s historical and Arab truths,” destroying the Al-Aqsa Mosque “to build the alleged Temple”
Official PA TV News, on PA claims Israel is building a cemetery under the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
Official PA TV newsreader: "The occupation authorities are planning the establishment of a settler cemetery underneath the Old City [of Jerusalem] and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem (sic., possibly refers to an underground cemetery of this size being planned in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem, far from the Old City and the Temple Mount). This cemetery will be able to contain more than 24,000 graves, most of them bogus."
Official PA TV reporter: "(Unclear word –Ed.) Within [Jerusalem], the occupation authority is continuing its Judaization plots in occupied Jerusalem. The latest dangerous chapter of Judaization was the daring to establish an enormous cemetery under the foundations of the Old City and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. [Israel] accordingly took control of an area of 16 dunams (i.e., 16,000 sq. meters) of waqf land (i.e., waqf is an inalienable religious endowment in Islamic law), which spreads [in East Jerusalem] from the Mount of Olives to the Silwan Valley (PMW could find no record online of such a land expropriation –Ed.). The cemetery plan – which the occupation began to pass after allocating a sum of $90 million for it and closing the main road that passes through the old cemetery on the Mount of Olives to Silwan – will be connected to what is called the Talmudic (i.e., Jewish) Path in the area of the Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The hidden war that the occupation authority is waging in Jerusalem – whether by settlement, creating facts on the ground, excavations underneath it to establish a cemetery for settlers, or museums alongside activities in search of the alleged Temple – is included in a planned and complete framework for overturning the contours and the historical and Arab truths of the city, in an attempt to establish the occupation's narrative, fables, and Talmudic stories.
The occupation's escalation of the excavations under the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, amid false pretexts and excuses, sounds the warning bell about the fate of the ancient neighborhoods and warns of a disaster that is liable to lead to their collapse at any moment – especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the occupation is trying to destroy in order to establish the alleged Temple on its ruins, especially considering the cracks and collapses being caused, which have harmed a number of civilian homes (sic., see note below)."
Claims that Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem are endangered by excavations, including excavations under the Temple Mount - The PA regularly claims that Israeli archaeological excavations in Jerusalem endanger Arab residents and their neighborhoods, and that Israel excavates under the Temple Mount, thereby endangering the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Regarding the Temple Mount claim, the Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that the excavations do not reach beneath the mosque: "Despite complaints from the Islamic Movement and Palestinian groups, not a single dig penetrates beneath the [Temple] Mount." [Haaretz, May 24, 2016] As for claims that Israeli excavations endanger Arab residents of Jerusalem and their neighborhoods, and particularly of Silwan – a predominantly Arab neighborhood near the Old City of Jerusalem, built above the ruins of ancient Jerusalem – the Israeli Supreme Court has rejected several such petitions. These petitions targeted excavations in the City of David archaeological site, which have been conducted for around 50 years and unearthed a multitude of artifacts, proving the Jewish presence in the city from the First Temple period that began in approximately 1000 BCE. Israeli Supreme Court Justice Edna Arbel responded to one petition (High Court of Justice file 9252/080) against the excavations by saying: “The [Arab] petitioners did not present any evidence that would substantiate a connection between the excavations and the damages that were allegedly caused to their homes… It had been made clear that the excavation work… was being done under the supervision and accompaniment of professionals.” In a separate ruling (High Court of Justice file 1308/08), Arbel said: “Notwithstanding the claims of the petitioners, it was explained that the work is being done under professional engineering supervision and as part of an approved construction plan… The work is performed with the accompaniment and supervision of professionals, not as the petitioners claim, and it is clear that these professionals are not only concerned about the completion of the work… but also are aware of their obligation to make sure the work is done in a way that will not harm the petitioners, their family members, or their property.” According to reports, many Arab residents of Silwan even worked on the excavations until threats from the PA and Hamas forced them to stop. Source: http://jcpa.org/article/the-truth-about-jerusalems-city-of-david-the-lies-about-silwan/