Unholy struggles over the Temple Mount
Pastor Dale Morgan
Unholy struggles over the Temple Mount*
By Danny Rubinstein and Yoav Stern
Sheik Ra'ad Salah, speaking in Cairo yesterday, called on the Arab and
Muslim world to begin every news broadcast with developments on and
around the Temple Mount. At a press conference he convened in the
Egyptian capital, he proposed the creation of a charity that would raise
money "to save Jerusalem from the Judaization attempts of the Israeli
establishment."
The statements by the head of the northern branch of Israel's Islamic
Movement are part of the organization's declared campaign. Salah and his
ally, Jerusalem Waqf (Supreme Muslim Council) Head Sheik Ikrima Sabri,
met with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, and they hope the
issue will be on the agenda of today's Arab foreign ministers' summit in
Cairo.
An Islamic Movement delegation returned this weekend from Turkey, where
members held talks with officials, and began preparations for a
reciprocal visit to Israel.
In Jerusalem, meanwhile, a power struggle is raging over the Temple
Mount among the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Israel, the northern
branch of the Islamic Movement and other interested parties. One symbol
of this struggle is the replacement last Thursday of the long-time head
of the Islamic Waqf religious trust, Adnan Husseini, by Azzam Al-Khatib.
While the Jordanian supporters of Husseini, who is currently abroad,
explained that the change of hands was routine - the result of the
former head's retirement - it is obvious that the move has important
political implications and is connected to the complicated relationship
among the parties.
The position of Waqf head is the most important one in the web of
control over Muslim assets in Jerusalem, the most significant of which
are the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jerusalem Waqf operates
under the aegis of Jordan. In its peace agreement with the Hashemite
Kingdom, Israel promised to maintain Jordan's special status regarding
Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Jordanians have been trying for years to block all involvement by
Hamas and the Islamic Movement in Al-Aqsa matters. Their attitude to
Salah and his organization is shared by the PA, which a few months ago
fired Sheik Sabri as mufti of Jerusalem due to his growing closeness
with Salah, replacing him with Sheik Mohammed Hussein, who also enjoys
Jordanian approval.
Israeli-Jordanian cooperation over Al-Aqsa has also increased recently.
For example, for nearly two years the Israel Police have prevented
several Palestinian figures from entering the Temple Mount, including
Waqf employees identified with Hamas. The nations also coordinate their
restrictions against Salah, whose activities at Al-Aqsa have made him
popular throughout the Muslim world.