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Israeli Desecration of Al-Aqsa |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| Fascists running Israel want Islam’s third holiest site replaced by
new Jewish temple - giving them control over sacred Al Aqsa ground. Longstanding policy permits Jewish prayer only at the adjacent Western Wall. Israeli forces regularly storm Al-Aqsa, attacking Muslim worshipers, restricting or prohibiting entry for others, letting extremist Jews pray where they don’t belong - desecrating Islam’s third holiest site in the process. A report prepared by the media center for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa indicated over 14,000 radicalized Israeli settlers, security forces and intelligence operatives conducted break-ins at the site during 2015 - perhaps prelude for greater extremism ahead. Most trespassers were and continue to be supporters constructing a third Jewish temple on holy Islamic ground. Data showed about 12,250 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa last year - along with 1,056 Israeli intelligence operatives, 445 soldiers under the pretext of providing “military guidance and exploration tours,” as well as 307 Israel Antiquity Authority officers and staff. Incursions are most common during Jewish holidays - especially the Rosh Hashanah new year, Yom Kippur day of atonement and Passover periods. Total trespassing violations roughly equalled 2014 intrusions. Surprisingly, what distinguished 2015 was the lower number of Israeli ministers involved - perhaps preoccupied with brutalizing Palestinians daily, notably since October 1, with likely far harsher measures to come, perhaps another Gaza war more ruthless than in summer 2014. Intermittent Israeli bombings suggest something bigger perhaps planned. The new year showed no letup. Overnight Friday, Israeli warplanes launched multiple strikes on the Strip, high crimes based on phony pretexts. Hamas training grounds were targeted along with areas east of Rafah and central Gaza. No casualties were reported as this is written. Considerable damage was done. Israel always blames Hamas unjustly for occasional lone wolf rocket firings, harming no one and doing no damage in Israel. Ordinary Gazans suffer most under suffocating siege and constant threat of aerial and ground attacks. Hizb al-Tahrir is an international pan-Islamic political organization. Its senior Palestine branch official Musab Abu Arqub believes ongoing resistance alone “isn’t enough to achieve the needed liberation.” Only the power of “Muslim armies” can end occupation along with establishing a unified Islamic caliphate, he believes. Liberating Palestine requires jihad. The group urges Palestinian unity toward a common goal. Israel banned it from the Al Aqsa compound on grounds of creating tension and violence at the holy site. Anyone involved in organizing, financing or participating in its activities risks criminal prosecution. Its activities are largely political, notably criticizing the PA for serving Israel at the expense of its own people along with fostering rivalry with Hamas and other Palestinian groups. It rejects meaningless negotiations with Israel, saying they “give occupation legitimacy,” wanting Palestine entirely liberated, not territory within pre-June 1967 borders alone. Palestinian deaths, injuries and arrests keep mounting. On Saturday, thousands assembled in Hebron for funeral ceremonies for 17 Palestinians extrajudicially executed - their bodies returned the night before. Forensic Palestinian examinations showed all 17 were executed, denied medical treatment after being shot. A general Hebron strike was called in solidarity with aggrieved families and to encourage turnout. Israel reluctantly returns bodies of Palestinians it murdered, wanting its viciousness concealed, opposing large-scale funeral commemorations, against public displays of justifiable anger. It wants war on Palestine continue unobstructed - with full US-led Western support and encouragement. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs. |
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