PA minister asks Allah to “purify” Muslim holy sites “from the defilement of the criminal infidels” - on eve of Jewish New Year

Official PA TV, broadcast of Friday prayers and a sermon by PA Minister of Religious Affairs Hatem Al-Bakri at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron

PA Minister of Religious Affairs Hatem Al-Bakri: “Allah, purify the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosquefrom the defilement of the criminal infidels, O Master of the Universe.”

[Official PA TV, Sept. 15, 2023]

The PA minister made this antisemitic statement on the eve of the Jewish New Year when large number of Jews would visit the Western Wall which the PA considers part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ibrahimi Mosque - The "Cave of the Patriarchs" in Hebron is known to Muslims as the "Ibrahimi Mosque." It is the site where the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs other than Rachel are buried as related by the Bible; its structure housing the cave was built by King Herod roughly 2,000 years ago during the Second Temple period. After Hebron was occupied by Muslim Caliph Umar in 637 CE, the site was converted into a mosque. Islam co-opted the Jewish tradition regarding the site being the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs, and therefore called it the "Ibrahimi Mosque" after Abraham.