For the people of Israel, the Temple Mount, where the two temples were located (and some believe where a Third Temple complex will be built), is the holiest place, and Jews turn to it in prayer three times a day. For the Palestinians, the Temple Mount compound is al-Haram al-Sharif – sacred to Islam and the third most important site in the Muslim world. The compound houses the al-Aqsa Mosque from which many Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended to heaven on his night journey. The Arab residents of East Jerusalem see themselves as defenders of al-Aqsa, in the mission of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Muslim nation.
Recently, there has been a growing demand among the Jewish public to exercise Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount, both in terms of freedom of access for Jews to the compound and in granting them the right to pray there. In contrast, both the Palestinians and some of the Arab citizens of the State of Israel are determined to continue fighting for control and sovereignty in the compound, as the Muslim world has widely legitimized their struggle for sovereignty on the Temple Mount.
Palestinians in particular and Muslims in general deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. In their view, Israel is striving to push them off the Temple Mount. This false presentation is known to have a profound effect on the Muslim community of believers, and many of them are willing to mobilize and sacrifice themselves in fighting to protect the Muslim shrines in Jerusalem. In contrast, the State of Israel and the general Jewish public do not negate the Muslim affiliation with al-Aqsa. In their view, recognizing this affinity does not necessarily weaken the Jews’ historical connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
Jewish-Muslim mutual recognition of the historical and religious affiliation of both sides to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount should contribute to calming the stormy winds. To this end, it is right to promote understandings between Jewish and Muslim religious leadership, and even to try and integrate Muslim leadership from the countries of peace and normalization of the region into the discourse.
For the people of Israel, the Temple Mount, where the two temples were located (and some believe where a Third Temple complex will be built), is the holiest place, and Jews turn to it in prayer three times a day. For the Palestinians, the Temple Mount compound is al-Haram al-Sharif – sacred to Islam and the third most important site in the Muslim world. The compound houses the al-Aqsa Mosque from which many Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended to heaven on his night journey. The Arab residents of East Jerusalem see themselves as defenders of al-Aqsa, in the mission of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Muslim nation.
Recently, there has been a growing demand among the Jewish public to exercise Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount, both in terms of freedom of access for Jews to the compound and in granting them the right to pray there. In contrast, both the Palestinians and some of the Arab citizens of the State of Israel are determined to continue fighting for control and sovereignty in the compound, as the Muslim world has widely legitimized their struggle for sovereignty on the Temple Mount.
Palestinians in particular and Muslims in general deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. In their view, Israel is striving to push them off the Temple Mount. This false presentation is known to have a profound effect on the Muslim community of believers, and many of them are willing to mobilize and sacrifice themselves in fighting to protect the Muslim shrines in Jerusalem. In contrast, the State of Israel and the general Jewish public do not negate the Muslim affiliation with al-Aqsa. In their view, recognizing this affinity does not necessarily weaken the Jews’ historical connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
Jewish-Muslim mutual recognition of the historical and religious affiliation of both sides to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount should contribute to calming the stormy winds. To this end, it is right to promote understandings between Jewish and Muslim religious leadership, and even to try and integrate Muslim leadership from the countries of peace and normalization of the region into the discourse.