| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lainey |
Posted - May 18 2003 : 12:00:46 AM
Why does peace remain an elusive dream in the Holy Land?
Israeli minister promises Jews access to Jerusalem mosque compound
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — Jews will soon be allowed to pray on Jerusalem's Al Haram Al Sharif Mosque compound even without an accord with its Muslim guardians, Israeli Interior Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi was quoted Thursday as saying.
The Palestinians issued a stark warning that such a decision would only set the region further ablaze.
"The site will be reopened as part of an agreement (with the Palestinian authorities), but if there is no agreement, it will be done without one," Hanegbi was quoted as telling parliament on Wednesday.
"We cannot tolerate a situation in which worshippers of all faiths are not allowed to pray on Temple Mount. The time is close, much closer than one thinks, when Jews will be able to pray on this holy site," he said.
Hanegbi is from the radical branch of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's right-wing Likud Party, which sits in a government coalition with two extreme-right nationalist religious parties.
The Waqf — the Islamic trust running the site which is also the third holiest site in Islam — considers the compound an exclusively Muslim site. Non-Muslims are theoretically allowed access but cannot organise collective prayers.
The Waqf has temporarily closed access to non-Muslims since the Sept. 28, 2000 provocative visit by then-opposition leader Sharon, which sparked bloody clashes and is often considered to have triggered the ongoing Intifada, or Palestinian uprising.
Some Israelis claim the Haram compound sits on top of Judaism's holiest shrine.
"We warn Israel against step towards implementing this promise, because violence would further spiral as a result," Palestinian Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat told AFP.
"The violence which started with Sharon's visit is still raging today, such a decision would only make things worse," he added.
Friday-Saturday, May 16-17, 2003
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