The latest post on the website of the Hamas ‘Izz a-Din al-Qassam’ military division is a bunch of dung, probably carted over from the nearby Gate next to the Temple Mount.
The post, deliberately calculated to maximize the primitive fears of the most uneducated masses of Muslim worshipers, is beyond the realm of ridiculous. But Arabs really believe it. (Of course, it is also possible the writer himself actually also believes it; it’s impossible to gauge the level of Qur’anic education of some of the Hamas terrorist clerics who spout this insanity.)
“According to latest reports, constant Israeli excavations underneath Al Aqsa Mosque have caused serious destruction to the foundation of Buraq Square, inside the Dung Gate,” the post reads. “According to the PNN, local sources reported a huge collapse of 2 meters in the foundation. No injuries among the group of worshipers and citizens were reported.
“However, sources have confirmed the existence of a network of tunnels underneath the mosque’s courtyards, where the Israeli occupation continues to excavate in an apparent attempt to incrementally demolish the mosque and rebuild the alleged Temple.”
Ah, the eternal fear of Ishmael — that his cousin Israel will return to rebuild the Holy Temple and trigger the coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu, the Messiah, the End of Days, the Mahdi, as he is known among Muslims. Does he not know that it is the other way around — that the Messiah himself must lead the way?
Oddly, a search of the PNN (Palestinian News Network) website shows only one reference to any “collapse” in the foundation of Al Aqsa. It is found in an article posted Dec. 17, entitled “Extremist Settlers Commit Successive Breakings Into Al-Aqsa.” The writer, who appears to be suffering either from a severe attack of paranoia, or from outright delusions, accuses “Israeli extremist groups” of breaking into the mosque compound “from Al Mughrabi gate, accompanied by private forces…. Local sources aid that the attacks on the mosque took place through small but successive groups, making provocative ‘tours’ in the corners and facilities of Al-Aqsa.” The article goes on to say the “attack” came in the morning, and “occupation police” detained the Ids of worshipers until they left the mosque.
“Jews say the dome of the rock is their first holiest place and proclaim that Al-Aqsa sits above the temple mount. (sic) “Successive digging and construction works have been going on under the mosque, in addition to several clashes between the worshipers and Zionist settlers who break into the mosque, causing the breakout of violent clashes in the whole city of Jerusalem.”
For those who need a primer on the preparation of propaganda, this would make a very good start. Begin with one lie and expand upon it until swallowed whole by an entire society. Repeat as often as possible. (Feel free to peruse the entire PNN site, by the way, for a quick trip into the world of Palestinian paranoia par excellence. It is for this reason the entire population is so badly misinformed.)
For the edification of those who actually swallowed this lot of bilge, here are facts that can be verified and are listed in multiple sources internationally:
1. The Temple Mount and in particular the Al Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock are administered under the Waqf Islamic Authority by mutual agreement of the Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Israel. 2. The Waqf Authority is overseen by the Kingdom of Jordan, by agreement with the State of Israel. 3. Security for the Temple Mount is provided by the State of Israel, with agreement from the Kingdom of Jordan. 4. No one is allowed to enter the mosque – either one, in fact – save Muslim worshipers, except in the case of life-threatening circumstances. 5. The so-called construction works and digging under the mosque were initiated by and carried out by the Waqf, without authorization from the State of Israel. No one else would have had access. Priceless artifacts that proved the existence of the First and Second Holy Temples of the Jews in Jerusalem were destroyed in that construction; others were damaged but rescued after the discarded rubble from the construction was retrieved and sifted through in a multi-year project carried out by volunteers off-site. 6. As for the “clashes between worshipers and Zionist settlers who break into the mosque” and the “violent clashes in the whole city of Jerusalem” – that is a reference to the violent attacks by Muslims at the site on Jews who enter the Temple Mount plaza, and a cheeky smirk about the rising number of vicious attacks on Israelis around the capital, as the terrorists’ long hoped-for third intifada finally takes hold. 7. Finally, a word about the place of the Temple Mount in Judaism and Islam. The site is holy to both faiths. But Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Qur’an, and the Temple Mount is considered the site of the Holy of Holies in both Jewish ancient Holy Temples. The site is considered the third holiest place in the Islamic faith, the place from which the prophet Mohammed rode up to heaven on his steed El Buraq. None in Israel dispute that; but none in Israel are willing to give up their holiest site.