2007-02-07 00:00:00 : Palestine > Opinion

“Work will continue so don’t anyone stop them”

On February 7, Al Quds Al Arabi, a Palestinian-owned daily, published an editorial that read: “The Arab and Islamic reactions vis-a-vis the digging works that the Israeli authorities have started conducting near the Western Wall [Wailing Wall] at Al-Aqsa Mosque, encouraged the continuation and not the cessation of these works, due to their indifference… The Egyptian government settled for condemning the act, while its Jordanian counterpart expressed its concern. In the meantime, the Saudi leadership was busy welcoming the delegations representing Hamas and Fatah in preparation for the reconciliation meeting in the Holy Mecca. “The Israelis are well aware of the weakness of the Arab governments and have chosen the best timing to resume these works, but more seriously, in the hope of finding the alleged Soloman Temple buried under Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sheikh Al-Azhar, who is considered the greatest Sunni reference in the Islamic world, issued a fatwa according to which the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque was the responsibility of the Palestinians and not that of the Arab and Islamic armies, thus sparing himself and his government from any blame in this regard. “The Sunni references are wailing over the status of the Sunni sect in Iraq, and Saudi Arabia even threatened to arm the Sunni militias and support them financially and militarily to protect this sect. However, it is not willing to do anything to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Qiblas [direction of the prayer] and the third holiest Shrine. The Palestinians do not need the fatwa of Sheikh Al-Azhar or any other to perform their duty in protecting their sanctities. They were mobilized since the early hours of the morning from the different cities and towns which are under the occupation, to obstruct the Israeli bulldozers which started digging under the protection of the Israeli soldiers. “However, they neither have arms, nor tanks, nor missiles. All they have are their true faith and the willingness to sacrifice their lives for their sanctities. We had hoped along with hundreds of millions of Arabs and Muslims, that the Arab states and especially Morocco, Egypt and Jordan who enjoy full diplomatic relations with the Hebrew State, would summon their ambassadors and close down their embassies if the Israeli diggings are not immediately stopped, then called for a Summit meeting to look into the next steps. That would’ve been the least they could do. “These three major states will not summon their ambassadors or do anything except condemn [the act] and express their concerns, which is why Israel will continue its works, demolish the Western Wall and even the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque while completely reassured.” - Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom

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