Rasha Hassan, 9-12-2009

The city of Al Quds has been characterised by a holiness that has persevered throughout history as a result of the city's association with a host of prophets and messengers, and its mention in all divine books. However, an especially sacred links it to the Islamic faith where it its considered the first kiblah and the destination of the night journey of Prophet Mohammed, (PBUH), as well as the place from which he ascended to the seven heavens.

A special Sura or chapter of the Quran, called Suratu Isra'a, is dedicated to this paramount event in the life of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). The Sura begins with the following verse: " Glory to ((Allah)) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest (Aqsa) Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)."

Al Quds is of Arab origin, its history is Islamic and its civilisation is universal. Throughout its Arab Islamic history, it has been a symbol of this history, of the mission of belief, of spiritual radiance, and of the concepts of peace and coexistence among the adherents of the three religions under the magnanimity and tolerance of Islam.

And while all political observers have been analyzing the latest political and security developments in the Palestinian Territories, Israelis are increasing their efforts to judaize Al Quds and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Over the last 40 years, Israel's target has been to increase its occupation of Al Quds, especially in the neighbourhood of the Holy Mosque, where it plans to lay the foundation of a Jewish synagogue. The beginning of such "Israeli" practices around the Holy Mosque became obvious on August 15, 1967, when the-then chief rabbi of the "Israeli" Army, General Shlomo Goren entered the mosque courtyard and pointed toward a spot, which he stated the site for the construction of the third synagogue. He clearly declared his project which calls for the establishment of the synagogue in the place of the Holy Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. This project has been adopted by all "Israeli" factions.

The occupation of 1967 has lead to plentiful threats to the Al Aqsa mosque and other religious symbols and places of worship in and around East Al Quds (Jerusalem). Extremist "Israeli" groups have been calling for the demolition of the Al Aqsa mosque and the takeover of the Haram Al Sharif for the construction of the Solomon's temple (Haikal Sulaiman). "Israeli" settlers have been incited to allot their religious duty to finance and lobby for the construction of the temple on the ruins of Al Aqsa mosque. Arab properties were expropriated to rid of Arab residence in the neighbourhood of Al Aqsa to make way for more "Israeli" settlements.

Furthermore, tunnels were dug around and beneath the Haram Al Shariif in search for the ruins of the temple razed during the Roman period. The excavation works has apparently affected the foundation of the Usmaniah mosque. These tunnels were dug in secrecy but their cover was blown when it was discovered by Syeikh Raed Salah. They also took over the Al. Maghariba gate, the main entrance to the Holy mosque .Other places of worship were also not spared by the "Israeli" profanity and these include the church of the holy Sepulcher (the church of al-Qiamah) and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Presently, "Israel" has been building a fabricated Jewish identity of the region and has started distorting the features of its Arab and Islamic history. To this end, the occupation forces have carried out a series of excavations in collaboration with many "Israeli" authorities and agencies. The excavations cover many areas around Al Quds Al Sharif, near its boundary walls and its buildings.

"Israelis" have used various chemicals to melt the already frail limestone in an attempt to keep the noise of the excavation work low. It has also been constructing tunnels around and underneath the shrine, and has built fabricated synagogues and religious centers that it shows to tourists as the remains of old Jewish religious structures.

The "Israeli" operations against the holy city didn't stop here yet it has escalated, for "Israel" has carried out other excavation and construction activities in the old city of Al Quds in order to rewrite the history of the city, with the aid of Jewish/Zionist demonological principles.
Excavators are conducting a search to locate the so-called "Remnants of the Temple," based on the verses of the Old Testament. It is important to point that various Jewish and Zionist schools hold different views on the location of the Jewish Temple.

Besides, all specialized studies and reports have found that no Jewish synagogue has ever existed in these locations. In fact, "Israeli" excavators have been confused by the failure of the excavation projects in exhuming the so-called "Jewish era" of Al Quds. As present excavations have already been conducted deep enough and over a huge expanse, there is no possibility that future excavations could recover traces of any so-called historical synagogue in the area.

Nevertheless, the "Israelis" continue to ignore historical facts, as the Judiazation of Al Quds continues to play a crucial role in "Israel's" settlement and displacement policies.

Mean while, recent reports reveal an "Israeli" plan for concentrating excavation work in nine locations, according to a statement by Shuka Dorfman, Director of "Israeli" Antiquities Authority (IAA). According to published information, these excavations are financed by the IAA, the municipality of the occupied city of the Al Quds, and certain Jewish extremists groups.

The Attrait Kohaneim Group is financing excavations north of the old town underneath the "Ohal Etshaq" synagogue within the Islamic neighbourhood, some 150 meters from the town walls. Meanwhile, the Alaad society is financing excavations at the Salwan neighborhood (the so-called David Town), in addition to other two locations. The Wall Heritage Fund is also financing excavations at three other locations near Al Baraq Wall, at the Western part and the Maghareba Gate.

The IAA approves all current and planned excavations at the occupied towns promptly, under the expeditious provisions of "rescue excavations," that identifies the archaeological value of a certain location before the commencement of operations. The present schemes have been collectively called "The Gigantic Plan," which is intended to change the face of the old town. As the excavations are currently concentrated toward the center, they are now expected to shift to new locations. It is thought that such excavations will continue for a few years. According to an official, the political context of the plan is clear, which is the expansion of Jewish control over the old town.

The Judiazation plan has been supported by "Israeli" provocations in Al Quds which stirred conflicts between "Israeli" soldiers and Palestinians. On 21 August, 1969, an Australian Christian Zionist, bearing the name Denis Michael Rohan, set the exequiste Minbar of Sallahuddin on fire, using a flammable substance, destroying the Minbar completely (a minbar is an elevated platform through which Imams/scholars of Islam give Friday sermons).

On April 11, 1982, a Jewish terrorist by the name of Allan Goodman entered the Dome of the Rock Mosque and started firing indiscriminately at Muslim worshipers, killing and injuring dozens of people.

On September 24, 1996, the then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the digging of an ancient tunnel (a drain from the Roman era), that runs parallel to the Western Wall of the Holy Shrine. Col. Charles Warn from the British Engineering Corp discovered the tunnel in 1876. However, on September 24, 1996, the Arab population was taken by surprise when it saw visitors entering from a new opening. Fierce fighting erupted between the occupation forces and the protesters, claiming the lives of 70 Palestinians.

On September 2000, Former "Israeli" prime minister visited the Holy Shrine; this move ignited the flames of the Al Aqsa Intifada. However, the most recent crisis took place in the first week of February, 2007, when occupation forces went ahead with the demolition of the historic road leading to Bab Al-Maghreba, for the building of a huge bridge in its place, to provide easy access for "Israeli" security forces and Jewish extremists groups into the courtyard of the Holy Shrine.

In short, the constant "Israeli" provocations in Al Quds, the construction of the wall, land confiscation from Arab residents, demolitions of their homes, revocations of residential status and expansion of Jewish settlements built up areas in and around Baitul Maqdis are all part of the sinister plan as once proclaimed by David ben Gurion, "There is no Israel without Jerusalem, and there is no Jerusalem without the temple".

The appointment of the hawkish "Israeli" premier Benyamin Netanyahu and his ultra right racist foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman along with the present line up of the Knesset points toward a major change in the identity of the holy city in the near future. 

Palestinians are sounding the alarm of a real and immediate danger to Al Quds and Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine, at the time where a Spark for an Upcoming Conflagration may kindle a new Intifada or uprising. As "Israel" continues to divert the world in a new round of political and security crisis, to precede with its Judiazation plans.