September 18/2015

Violence in Jerusalem and Palestinian Incitement

If anyone was wondering what has been fueling the violence in the Temple Mount and in and around Jerusalem this week, the answer can be found in inciting rhetoric by Palestinian Authority president, Mahmud Abbas, which was widely broadcasted this week on Palestinian and Arab media.

"… We welcome every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem. This is pure blood, clean blood, blood on its way to Allah. With the help of Allah, every shaheed will be in heaven, and every wounded will get his reward…Al-Aqsa is ours, and the (Church of the) Holy Sepulcher is ours, all ours. They have no right to desecrate them with their filthy feet, and we won't allow them to."

The Government of Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount, which protects the right of Muslims to pray in the mosque, ensure freedom of religion for all and access to all of Jerusalem's holy sites.

There are all too many on the Palestinian side who are actively attempting to violently change the status quo and undermine the delicate balance in Jerusalem. Radical Islamist rioters on the Temple Mount have deliberately desecrated, damaged and endangered a site holy to Muslims and to Jews, turning it into a battle field, using stones, Molotov cocktails and explosive devices. Such violence led to the murder of Alexander Levlovich, on the eve of the Jewish New Year this week. If kept unchecked, it will lead to other casualties.

Unfortunately, that violence is fueled and inspired from the very top, as illustrated by the words of President Abbas. It is our hope that such Palestinian incitement stop and that worshipers and tourists of all faiths will be able to safely visit and pray in Jerusalem. 

Shabbat Shalom,

  

Yaron Sideman
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region