In June 1967, Israel occupied what is usually referred to as the West Bank, including East Jerusalem where Al-Aqsa Mosque is situated. In fact, these territories were under Jordan’s administrative control since 1951. Originally, they were given to the Palestinians, the indigenous inhabitants of the land, in accordance with the UN partition plan that divided historic Palestine between immigrant Jews and the Palestinian people who refused to accept this plan and continued resisting it by all means.
According to the Geneva Convention and UN Security Council’s resolutions, these territories are occupied territories that should be returned back to their lawful owners.
But Israel has never acceded to any international resolution because it enjoys protection from punishment by the US and British. Availing itself of the present chaos in the Middle East, the Israeli government has recently increased its provocations against the Palestinian people — Christians and Muslims — and their holy places.
Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam after the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
Not only are the Palestinian people forbidden from entering their holy mosque but fanatic Jews also routinely violate the sanctity of the place under protection of the Israeli police. Since annexing the holy city more than half a century ago, Israel did whatever it could to prove that Al-Aqsa Mosque stood on remains of the so-called Temple. But Israel failed to discover anything that could prove this assumption. Failing in this attempt, the Israeli government began executing an old scheme to divide the place among Jews and Muslims as it did with the other holy mosque in Hebron.
Noticeably, the Israeli government has recently escalated its provocations.
Sensing that these Israeli measures will further aggravate the current situation in the Middle East, many countries have urged Israel to restrain its settlers and allow the Palestinians free access to the Noble Sanctuary.
Despite international calls, Israel is not doing anything to calm the situation. This leads us to wonder as to what is the motive behind this provocative Israeli behavior?
Many observers believe that Israel is trying to gauge the reaction of Arab and Muslim masses. In the meantime, it also aims to harm the joint Arab coalition headed by Saudi Arabia, which is fighting on many fronts against the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen and the Iran-Hezbullah-Assad alliance in Syria.
What the Netanyahu government doesn’t understand is that Saudi Arabia, although heavily engaged in fighting these threats, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and will never accept Israeli hegemony.
History is witness to this Saudi stand since the days of the late King Faisal who once said, “May Allah make me not live if I don’t liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque.” Although King Faisal was killed without fulfilling his promise, but the Kingdom’s leadership is still faithful to his legacy. If the Israelis believe that the Arabs are weak then they are making a big mistake. Few days ago, the Jordanian monarch openly said that the peace accord between his country and Israel would be reconsidered if the Israeli aggressions didn’t stop.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman told the whole world, “Al-Aqsa Mosque is ours and not theirs.” He was speaking on behalf of all Arabs and Muslims who will never let the Israelis demolish the holy mosque.
The whole world knows by now that this is not a mere lip service, but the king means business, and Israel should count to 10 before continuing unlawful measures to change the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
