The initiative to establish an advocacy foundation for Jewish connections to the Temple Mount has been met with fury among Arab lawmakers who claim the initiative is an attempt to change the status quo and harm an Islamic holy site.
In a move arousing resentment and anger, Ministers Ze’ev Elkin and Miri Regev of Likud have created a ministerial initiative to establish an advocacy foundation for Jewish connections to the Temple Mount.
The Joint List attacked the initiative saying the area is “holy to Islam and regardless of whatever initiative is established, nothing will change that facts.”
Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee, MK Ahmed Tibi, said, “The Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding area, 144 square dunams, is a sacred place for Islam and a mosque for Muslims. Thus it has been and always will be, despite the occupation and despite the initiative.”
Another member of the Joint List, MK Jamal Zahalka, said, “Elkin continues to provoke and stoke fire. Step by step the government is trying to change the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Elkin’s initiative is another rude provocation. It was not meant for research and advocacy, but rather the legitimization of malicious and intentional harm to a Muslim holy place.”
Members of the Israeli right have welcomed the move. MK Yehuda Glick, who has fought to expand the Jewish presence on the Temple Mount for years, said, “After many long months, I am glad my efforts have bore fruit. It is about time. After a delay of 50 years (more accurately, 2,000 years) the Israeli government has decided to recognize that the Temple Mount is the national site of the people of Israel.”
According to the initiative, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Sport will advocate NIS 2 million to advocacy efforts dealing with the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount.
Activities the initiatives will include producing movies and clips in a variety of languages, developing courses and a wide array of activities on social media devoted to the subject.
In a joint statement, Elkin and Regev said, “In recent years, Israel has been dealing with a de-legitimization campaign partly based on the Temple Mount, its heritage and its connection to the Jewish people in a negative way that is inconsistent with factual truth as reflected in historical and archaeological research.”
According to the ministers, the initiative was undertaken in response to the controversial UNESCO decision which failed to recognize that the Jewish people have any connection to the Temple Mount.
As reported by Ynetnews