By Arlene Kushner
“The Head Spins”
I begin by returning to the issue of Jewish/Israeli rights on the Temple Mount, which I wrote about extensively in my July 9 posting:
In my effort to better understand the situation, I had a conversation with MK Arieh Eldad (National Union), who co-chairs the Knesset Lobby for Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
He told me, first, that there is no simple way to secure lifting of the gag order (for “security reasons”) that had been placed by the Knesset State Control Committee on a Temple Mount report done by the Comptroller’s office in 2008. There would need to be, he speculated, a court ruling or a complete change in circumstances.
The reason for the gag order, I have been advised, involves understandings between Jordan, which controls the Wakf (Islamic Trust, which administers the holy sites on the Mount), and Israel. Those understandings pertain at least in part to hours during which the Mount will be open to Jews.
I had alluded in my June 9th posting to the words of Moshe Dayan, who had made arrangements with the Wakf regarding freedom of Jewish access to the compound without limitation: “it would be inconceivable for Jews not to be able freely to visit this holy place now that Jerusalem was under our rule.”
I indicated in that post that Jews do not have free access to the Mount, and here it is, a forged agreement: So many hours this day, some hours on that day.
Then, I asked MK Eldad, this was kept secret so as to not embarrass our government for forging an agreement that restricts Jewish access to the Mount?
Not at all, replied MK Eldad, “this government is beyond embarrassment.” Netanyahu, he said, is proud of maintaining a good relationship with Jordan: It was kept secret so as to not embarrass the king of Jordan, who had agreed to permit Jews on the Mount when many Arabs would prefer that no Jews go there at all.
The specifics and the details of that agreement are hidden from us.
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I alluded then to the difficult time Jordan gave us with regard to the Mughrabi Gate, withdrawing cooperation after Netanyahu had attempted to involve the Jordanians at every level. “The Jordanians have not been cooperative for ten years,” replied MK Eldad.
He told me that he registered a complaint about the work being done in the Dome of the Rock, and was advised that the Arabs were doing it “with permission and supervision.” “Much worse,” he observed, “than if they were doing it behind our backs.”
There you have it, my friends. This must not be the end of the story.
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Several additional points, for the record. After the Oslo Accords of 1993, a struggle ensued between Jordan and the PA regarding the Wakf and control of Mount holy sites. My sense of it is that there was a period when there were actually two Wakfs, with Arafat seeking rather successfully to dominate the situation with “his” mufti (Islamic legal authority).
But the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty of 1994 included a clause, insisted upon by Jordan, that Amman would be accorded a preferred status in future Israeli-Arab talks about the Temple Mount. This raised the hackles of those who felt that Israel had sovereignty over the Mount.
Then, in 2008, according to a report by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, the Jordanian-controlled Wakf took over administration of the Mount and the PLO was pushed back.
The date 2008 dovetails with the time of the Comptroller’s Report — alluded to above — that was declared to contain “security” issues that prevented it from being made public.
So there was a new mufti that Israel was working with, and who knows what else it contains beside the allocation of hours for Jews to go up on the Mount?
Who knows what matters were addressed that might be an embarrassment to the Israeli government with regard to relinquishing of control of the Mount?
Might it even be that Netanyahu acceded to Jordan on issues of the Mughrabi bridge (ultimately not replacing it) because of some formal agreement in terms of authority and not just out of a desire to give Jordan a role informally to keep matters smooth?
How much, precisely, don’t we know?
I can only ask the questions.
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One other point: I am very much in favor of Jews going up on the Mount to demonstrate concern and interest — I encourage this. However, the Mount is holy ground and Jews should not walk on the area where the Temple had been located. It is important to go with a guide who understands these matters, and, if in doubt, to consult your rabbi.
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It is insufficient to describe what is going on in the world as “crazy.” Consider:
The United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty convened a meeting in New York last week and which will continue until June 27. It is supposed to deliver a new agreement to regulate the trade of arms.
On July 3, 15 members were elected — presumably by the UN — to the Bureau of the Conference, which assists the president in the business of the Conference.
One of those elected was Iran. That’s the same Iran that was recently charged by the Security Council with illegally transferring arms to Syria.
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And speaking of Syria: This country is now slated to win a seat on the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council.
The election is to be held next year for a term that begins in 2014. And unless there is intervention in the system, Syria will be in. As Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch explains, this is because of the “prevalent system of fixed slates, whereby regional groups orchestrate uncontested elections, naming only as many candidates as allotted seats. That’s how non-democracies like China, Cuba , Russia and Saudi Arabia won their current seats, and how Pakistan and Venezuela are about to do the same.”
This means, of course, that it’s not just a matter of Syria vying unilaterally for a seat — rather, a group of nations (the 53 members of the Asian group) has determined it’s fine and dandy to include Syria on its slate.
Alarmed by this, the EU and the US are advancing a resolution that states, Syria “fails to meet the standards” for Human Rights Council membership. But if this comes before the membership of the Council for a vote??
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Yesterday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso declared in Tel Aviv that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is key to achieving regional peace and global stability,
Global stability too? Wow.
He hopes for a democratic Palestinian state next to Israel. Democratic. Does he believe this stuff?
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Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, of course agrees with Barroso. In Strasbourg yesterday, she
said that, “Ending the conflict remains a top priority.” Helpfully, she pointed out that the settlements are a “key and most serious concern” with regard to a peace settlement. In fact, the settlements “put current peace efforts at risk.”
I suspect her mind is made up. There’s little point in telling her about PA incitement and school maps that don’t include Israel and a PLO covenant that calls for Israel’s destruction even today, and Abbas’s insistence on “right of return.”
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So how can I describe all of this? Crazy, yes. But perverted, hallucinatory, maliced, and obscene are a few of the other words that come readily to mind.
Such is the world we live in.
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The point I would make here — and will continue to make — is that we, as Jews and as Israelis, will also be crazy if we seek to accommodate this world. We must march to our own drummer, firm in the knowledge of our rights.
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Of course, if we also factor in news about Iran, then we would have to additionally say the world is suicidal.
Portions of a Pentagon report that were declassified today say that:
Iran’s military has “boosted the lethality and effectiveness of existing” ballistic missile systems with “accuracy improvements and new sub-munition payloads,” The Iranians are also acquiring “new ships and submarines.”
All this while Iran continues to develop its nuclear capacity, undeterred by economic sanctions:
“A position paper obtained by The Times of Israel, understood to have been used by Iran’s negotiators at last week’s technical-level talks with the P5+1 powers in Istanbul, makes plain the Tehran regime’s unyielding rejection of international efforts to negotiate safeguards and restrictions that would prevent Iran attaining a nuclear weapons capability.”Far from indicating Iranian readiness for a suspension or scaling back of its nuclear program, indeed, the document, made available by an informed source on condition of anonymity, includes
references to Iran’s expansion plans.”
http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-plans-to-expand-not-suspend-its-nuclear-program-according-to-position-paper-obtained-by-times-of-israel/
I can say with a reasonable degree of confidence that here, at least, Israel will march to her own drummer: We do not intend to adopt a suicidal policy vis-a-vis Iran.
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With all of this, I will end on an upbeat note:
Yesterday I attended a press conference for bloggers hosted by iVoteIsrael, and done under the auspices of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
iVoteIsrael is a fine organization — non-profit, non-partisan — that is promoting the registration of Israelis who are American citizens, so that they can vote in the upcoming presidential election. This is particularly important this time around because that election is so critical. Evidence is that American Israeli votes that are cast — and all absentee ballots ARE counted — can make a difference.
If you are an American in Israel and have not registered, or have a relative who is an American Israeli, see
http://www.ivoteisrael.com/ for additional information and a simple registration process.
Note: even if you are a registered voter, the new rules require that you register each time for an absentee ballot.
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The program yesterday featured Matt Brooks — the Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Policy Center, a think-tank, and Ari Fleisher — White House press secretary for George Bush from 2001 – 2003, consultant on press communication, and author of a best selling book, Taking Heat. Brooks is on the left, below.
Credit: IsraelMatzav
These gentlemen had just flown in from the States and will be here in Israel for some days promoting voter registration.
Most American Jews are not going to vote Republican. This is acknowledged as fact: Jews historically are Democrats.
As Ari put it, the issue is “inroads”: In the last four presidential elections, the percentage of Jews who voted Republican went from 11% to 16% to 19% to 24%. All that is needed, he told us yesterday, is 25% – 30% of the Jewish vote to get Romney into the White House.
Matt, for his part, indicated he’s encountering a good deal of “buyer’s remorse”: Jews who voted Obama last time and now regret it.
With Romney, he said, we will get a president who is pro-Israel all of the time, from the heart. It is when Israel’s enemies see light between Israel and the US that Israel is most at risk. This should never be.
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There are 163,395 eligible US voters in Israel. Their voting pattern is different from that of Jews in the US. They — we! — vote two to one Republican, according to a poll commissioned by iVoteIsrael. And of those who did vote for Obama last time, 37% do not intend to do so this time.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner , functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
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@ Laura:
right on
yamit82 Said:
Snap out of it, guy. Our Nigerian cohorts have something to tell you.
yamit82 Said:
Are you serious? The countries you mentioned above used to be and some still are the enemies of Israel. There are individuals Christians who truly love the Jews and Israel around the world. On what bases do you equate group of people of faith who live in different countries with the countries, which were/are enemies of Israel?
@ TTW:
I disagree that Jews should align themselves with anyone. That We have a common enemy in Islam is a given but to make common cause with another enemy is not wise and against all lessons that should be learned from our history.
Assyria, Persia, Egypt and ROME!
In our most dire moments we were abandoned by every nation in the world many even gave a helping hand to our murderers.
Today we are more vilified by the nations of the world than at any time in our history.
On the eve of the 6 days war Israel stood alone. Our victory was so immense so complete our leaders couldn’t handle it and reverted to the extreme in the opposite direction of seeking alignments to a World Super power. We became for all intents of purpose a subservient Vassal state when we should have strengthened our sovereignty, National independence and control over our territorial gains.
Isolation
Parashat Balak – Israel alone, a precious blessing – Rabbi Meir Kahane
“We must never forget the following great principle: Whoever relies on the non-Jew and seeks his aid, repels the Messiah, pushes off the redemption and brings upon us G-d’s wrath and ire. Redemption will come only when Israel are alone, without any outside protection or help. Only when the nations see, with wonderment and mouth agape, how mighty and strong G-d is without help, will G-d’s name be magnified and sanctified on earth. Then shall the vision be realized before the eyes of the nations that “The L-rd alone shall be exalted in that day”(Isa. 2:17).”
Samuel Fistel Said:
Thanks for your insight. The most hated groups by Muslims are Jews and Christians. When the radical left uses fabricated lies and fully supports the Muslims against Jews and Christians, shouldn’t Christians and Jews come together more than ever in order to frustrate their evil plans and defeat them? Christians who frequently read their Bible and pray identify themselves more with Jews & Israel. The liberal theologians and liberal so called Christians are the ones who are anti-Semites. The history that you included in your comments among other things could encourage both Jews and Christians to stand together and fight against those who hate and also try to divide us as our fate is tied together.
Regardless of what the rest of the world thinks, the Jews must put their security first. It’s my opinion that Jews should not accept a solution that gives Arab Muslims a state next door to Israel, based on the facts that Muslims have killed Jews and stolen their property and do still kill Jews and take their property since the inception of Islam 1300 years ago; that these Muslims are invaders, conquerors of the Holy Land of Jews and Christians, most recently by the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s CE, who approximately 400 years later lost total control of it when the Ottomans made the mistake of choosing the wrong side in WW I.
My research indicates that Muslims have no religious connection to the Holy Land, zero, zilch. They built a shrine on the Temple Mount in 691 CE, but their claim that Mohammed ascended to heaven from there is a made up story. What Mohammed did say was Israel is the Land of the Jews and Muslims should respect the Jews’ Covenants with G-d. Does this make the disobeying Muslims heathens?
Israel should reopen negotiations on the Temple Mount. If Muslims are digging under the Mount, that holy soil is Jewish holy soil and Jews should be able to inspect it. The Jordanian backed Qakf should not have the final say of conditions on the Mount, and when Jerusalem is a settled issue, Israel should give Muslims an eviction notice from the Temple Mount based on Muslims’ continued violent activity against Jews. Can anything be done about the descendents of Muslims who came to Israel looking for jobs after Israel became a state and who now claim the land is theirs?
When I was young I took a class on evolution and learned that certain Africans have feet that evolved slightly different than the rest of the population. Then years ago a coach made a comment that blacks in general can run faster than white guys. He was crucified. I guess it was politically incorrect to say that, even though people can look at professional sports in the U.S. and see blacks dominate football and basketball, but don’t tell anyone.
I have always thought Jews were one of the smartest people on earth. They are a foundation of Western Civilization, and their Holy Book the Torah was the basis for Christianity and Islam. It doesn’t get much smarter than that.
@ BlandOatmeal:
Other examples of Jewish nationhood are exemplified by the Jewish Pirates:
Putting the Oy Back into ‘Ahoy’
By: Steven Plaut
Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean.
@ BlandOatmeal:
You seem to have a psychological need to believe we Jews are not a people.
Just because you are a Heinz 57 mongrel does not mean that we are or should be. If there is any racially pure major sub race it’s the Jews. Some of us have kept Jewish beliefs and traditions generation to generation for the past 3,300 years. Judaism has been the glue linking all Jews.
True story: Two Jewish businessmen meet in a bar in India, one speaks only English as he is from America and the other only Spanish as he is from Argentina. Both spoke Yiddish and got along quite well.
Legacy: A Genetic History of the Jewish People
By Harry Ostrer
Oxford University Press, 288 Pages, $24.95
In his new book, “Legacy: A Genetic History of the Jewish People,” Harry Ostrer, a medical geneticist and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, claims that Jews are different, and the differences are not just skin deep. Jews exhibit, he writes, a distinctive genetic signature.
Ostrer, who is also director of genetic and genomic testing at Montefiore Medical Center, goes further, maintaining that Jews are a homogeneous group with all the scientific trappings of what we used to call a “race.”
Read more: http://forward.com/articles/155742/jews-are-a-race-genes-reveal/?p=all#ixzz20RVfdPnq
@ Samuel Fistel:
“Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God…”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Muslim mosques on the Jewish Temple Mount: a brief history
The pagan Greco-Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 CE. Jewish Jerusalem was later completely destroyed by them in 135 CE, in response to the failed Second Jewish Revolt.
Determined to reach a “final solution” about the Jews, the pagan Greco-Romans renamed Jerusalem as Aelia, renamed Judea as Palestine, outlawed circumcision, and banished all circumcised persons from Jerusalem and Judea altogether (this ban include the few remaining original “Jewish” christians). They then erected pagan temples throughout Judea.
Two hundred years later, the pagan Greco-Romans converted to the form of paganism called christianity (which they incredibly claimed was the “true” form of Judaism). The Greco-Roman christians maintained the names Aelia and Palestine, as well as the ban on Jews in Judea, but did convert the pagan Greco-Roman temples into churches (mostly by crossing out the pagan names and replacing it with christian names).
We don’t know for sure what structures (if any) were present on the Temple Mount between 135 and 614 CE. In 614, the Persians (Iranians) with their Jewish allies, destroyed most churches in palestine.
In 629, the orthodox greek christians (Byzantines) reclaimed Aelia, but only held it for seven years, until the muslim arabs conquered it in 636.
The muslims set up their capital in Damascus, leaving Aelia and palestine largely christian (with a few Jews in the Galilee). The muslims became rich very quickly with their stolen christian wealth. But they were still a minority in christian Syria and Palestine, and faced an ongoing threat from the nearby remaining unconquered portion of the christian Byzantine Empire (in what is now muslim Turkey).
In order to solidify the muslim hold on christian Aelia/Jerusalem, and to clearly demonstrate the supremacy of islam over christianity, between 680 and 715 the muslims built the Dome of the Rock and the al aqsa mosque upon the Temple Mount, overlooking christian Aelia/Jerusalem. They used highly skilled architects and craftsmen from the conquered christian lands.
The Dome of the Rock is a shrine (not a mosque; no one prays there) built on the site of the Jewish Temple destroyed six hundred years earlier. It contains arabic inscriptions from the Koran proclaiming islamic supremacy over christianity (god has no father and no sons).
The al aqsa mosque was built on the side of the Temple Mount closest to Mecca (namely, the south side). It faces Mecca. Muslims enter it from the north, bow down, and pray towards Mecca, with their asses pointed at the Dome of the Rock and the Jewish Temple.
The Temple mount is a minor pilgrimage site for the muslims, with no religious obligation to ever go there. Its main significance for the muslims is making sure that the christians, and especially, the Jews, never have it.
@ Laura:
It is because the Jews are not, in effect, a people. They are a conglomeration of religious and polictical sects that will NEVER agree with one another.
There should not be a situation where Jews have to get the permission of the king of Jordan to visit their holiest site in the sovereign Jewish state. This is insanity. It is insanity that Jewish leadership squandered the great victory of the six day war by allowing its just defeated sworn enemy control over the Temple Mount. What is wrong with the Jewish people that we consistently make good will gestures to those who want us wiped out? Why are we so insecure in asserting our rights to maintain what belongs to us?