In my opinion it is time to throw the Arabs off of Temple Mount. At minimum, take away their de facto control of the site.
Today the Minister of Internal Security went up to Temple Mount to tour the compound and survey the police deployment. Totally legitimate. Not a bunch of religious Jews trying to build the Temple. Not a bunch of religious Jews harming the Arab sensitivities by praying, God forbid. Simply the guy in charge of the police going to a highly sensitive location to see how the police work up there.
The Wakf is threatening an intifada ("trying to ignite a war"), and the Arabs are incensed over the visit, calling it a provocation.
I think throwing them off the Mount will solve the situation. If not completely, then at least after a waiting period of 6 months or a year with no access at all. Teach them a little humility, and teach them that they are not the only ones here. And then, if they want access, they can have it like anyone else - no more than Jews, if not less.
Obviously they can't do that. They agreed to give the Wakf control when Dayan handed back the keys to the Mount in 1967 and like every other Arab-Israeli agreement, the Israelis have to hold by their end even as the Arabs flagrantly violate theirs.
ReplyDeletePerhaps something simple - set up a booth at the entrance and have some young, attractive Israeli girl hand out pamphlets covered in Israeli flags as Shimon Peres' beaming face welcomes them to one of Israel's "most popular tourist attractions"!
On the other hand, another intifada would head off all this two-state crap for awhile...
Best of British luck getting your proposal adopted, Rafi... :)
ReplyDeleteGarnel - I never though of an intifada as a good thing, but maybe....
ReplyDeleteShaul - British luck?
OED: (the) best of British luck: an expression of encouragement, often with the ironical implication that good luck will not be forthcoming. Also best of British.
ReplyDeletewhat does it matter? Jordan said they would declare an all Arab State war on Israel within 18 months. throw the Arabs off the mount! you have nothing to lose
ReplyDeleteRoger - when did Jordan say that? Do you have a link to the article about it? I am curious what the context was....
ReplyDeleteWhy would you recommend "for six months"?
ReplyDeleteHaving the Har Habayit, or better, the Beit Hamikdash in the hands of Non-Jews is the greatest tragedy of modern times. Moshe Dayan's handing over of the Beit Hamikdash to the Arabs is the greatest act of treachery of modern times.
Therefore, we MUST
a.)remove all non jews of the Beit Hamikdash. perminantly.
b.)Then we must declare and exercise, in word and in deed, total control over the Beit Hamikdash.
c.)and then finally, we must start planning and laying the groundwork for rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash.
And finally, please remember that the day the Jews stop worrying about "what will the non-Jews and the world say about this?", that is the day Mashiach will come, rebuild the Beit Hamikdash, and reestablish the Malchut of Hashem on this earth.