A photo on a Palestinian chat room claiming Jews are "Storming" Al Aqsa

"Storming" Temple Mount: When Media Hype Fuels Anti-Israel Sentiment

Details
Jay Engelmayer
Explainer

In recent years, the term "storming" has been increasingly used by Palestinian media, leaders and activists, to describe the visits of Jews to the Temple Mount, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located as well as Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs, which is a facility that contains both a Mosque and a Synagogue. While this term may be convenient for generating attention and creating sensational headlines, it is a deeply problematic description that engenders numerous issues, both in terms of accuracy and the potential for incitement against Jews in Israel by Palestinians, the latter of which is the intended result.

Labeling Jewish visits to the Temple Mount as "storming" is misleading and inaccurate and yet media outlets do not challenge these claims, but still use those perpetuating it as “credible sources.” The term ‘Storming” or “Invading” connotes a sudden, forceful, and uninvited entry, often with violent intent. However, Jewish visitors usually go through a stringent screening process under the supervision of the Israeli police, and their movements are highly regulated. Even the videos promoted by Palestinian organizations that show Jews visiting the site do not corroborate the accusation – in fact they are all peaceful and solemn. Jews revere the site, despite a Mosque sitting atop the Mount, and are humble and respectful as all those videos show. It is important to add here that these visits are often pre-scheduled, and the numbers are strictly controlled.

Moreover, Jews are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount, under the current status quo agreement between Israel and Jordan, which administers the Islamic Waqf in charge of the mosque. Thus, the visits are far from being disruptive or invasive in the way that the term "storming" implies. Again, as their own videos show, Jews walk slowly around the compound, usually with their heads lowered in deference to the awe of being on holy ground.

This campaign of delegitimization and incitement was born out of a longtime strategy by anti-Israel Arabs, beginning with Jerusalem’s antisemitic Grand Mufti, Haj Amin Al Husseini, to strip Jewish lineage to the Land of Israel in general, Jerusalem in specific. This strategy in and of itself has gone a long way towards brainwashing generations of Palestinians who are not taught history but indoctrinated with tropes against Jews and Zionists.

The denial of Jewish history in Jerusalem and Hebron has been a tactic employed by Palestinian leaders like Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas to delegitimize Israel's presence and the Jewish connection to these ancient cities. This approach is not only historically inaccurate but also poses significant obstacles to any meaningful dialogue and peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. However, it is evident that Arafat had no desire to create peace with Israel, and Mahmoud Abbas has made it clear that Israel will be wiped out and all the land will become Palestine.

From a factual standpoint, the claim that Jews have no history in Jerusalem and Hebron is untenable. The archaeological record, ancient texts, and even Islamic traditions attest to the Jewish connection to these cities far more than Muslim connections, and considering there was no Palestinian nation or people prior to the 1960s, any ties they claim has no archaeological backing whatsoever. It is a fact that Jerusalem has been the spiritual and political center of Jewish life since the time of King David, around 1000 BCE. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem housed the First and Second Temples and is considered the holiest site in Judaism. Even through the Byzantine and Muslim periods, Jewish presence in the Old City has been constant.

Similarly, Hebron is home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These figures are not only significant in the Jewish tradition but are also recognized in Islam by scholars throughout the centuries, making Palestinian denial of Jewish history not only a falsification but a distortion of their own Islamic heritage as well.

The erroneous use of the term "storming," coupled with the denial of the Jewish historical connection to the Temple Mount, undermines efforts towards peaceful coexistence. Historical documentation, such as tourist pamphlets created by Haj Husseini in the 1920s, corroborates the Jewish significance of the site, identifying it as the indisputable location of Solomon's Temple. Furthermore, the Umayyad Caliphate, which defeated the Byzantines in Jerusalem and constructed the mosque, acknowledged the Jewish roots of the area. They renamed Jerusalem "Al-Quds," a name derived from "Bayt Al Maqdis," which is the Arabic translation of the Hebrew "Beit Hamikdash"—the name for the Holy Temple.

The characterization of Jewish visits as "storming" or "invading" not only fosters a false narrative of exclusivity but also contradicts earlier Islamic perspectives, thereby undermining the integrity of Islamic heritage. Such misleading terminology only serves to exacerbate divisions, fuel tension, and obstruct meaningful dialogue.

Perhaps most alarming is the potential for violence that such misleading terminology can incite. Words wield significant power in shaping perceptions and driving actions, a fact evidently exploited in the escalated rhetoric surrounding this issue. Labeling Jewish visits to the Temple Mount as "storming" has fanned the flames of fear and resentment among Muslim worshippers, leading to a cascade of consequences including riots, clashes, and even serving as a pretext for sustained rocket attacks from Gaza as well as a surge in terror attacks against Jews in Judea and Samaria.

Another critical point is that this campaign of denying Jewish connection and calling Jewish visits an invasion has contributed to the politicization of a site that should ideally remain a place of worship and spiritual significance for all monotheistic faiths – at least that is what the United Nations has advocated for while supporting Palestinian efforts to establish a state. In an era where misinformation can spread like wildfire, especially via social media platforms, it is essential to ensure that narratives are not built on misleading or incendiary language.

By perpetuating the notion that Jews have no historical connection to Jerusalem and Hebron, an implicit argument emerges suggesting they have no right to reside in or claim any part of these cities. This tactic, employed for over half a century, has led to a prevalent belief among progressive supporters of Palestine that Jews are not indigenous to the region, thereby negating their claims or connections to any part of Israel. The irony lies in the fact that this same group of liberal activists, who often advocate for the indigenous rights of Aboriginal, Native American, and Amazonian tribes, simultaneously deny one of the most well-documented cases of historical exile and indigeneity.

The narrative hinders the prospects for constructive compromise or power-sharing arrangements, which could be crucial pathways to a lasting peace. An effective peace process must be predicated on mutual recognition and respect. Regrettably, since their political organization in the 1960s, many Palestinian leaders have not only denied Jewish ties to the land but have also been unwilling to genuinely accept the coexistence of Israelis. This is exemplified by the Oslo Accords, in which commitments were made on paper while billions of dollars were garnered from the international community.

Despite such agreements, public speeches by these leaders frequently reject Israel's legitimacy. This stance is manifest in anti-Semitic rhetoric, such as Mahmoud Abbas's contentious remarks that attribute Hitler's genocide not to anti-Semitism but to a stereotypical portrayal of Jewish greed and duplicity, as well as his claims challenging Israel's legitimacy. Moreover, claims denying any historical or archaeological evidence of Jewish ties to the land are easily discredited through elementary research, a fact that is rarely, if ever, highlighted by major global media outlets.

When it comes to describing Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, using terms like "storming" not only distorts reality but also serves as a catalyst for further division and conflict. It is not surprising when this is understood, why this conflict has gone on for over 5 decades. It is imperative that public discourse be rooted in factual accuracy and a commitment to mutual respect, and yet, it seems that as time goes on, the narrative of the Palestinians is becoming entrenched in the discussion, leading to an increase in antisemitism and more money going towards funding anti-Israel activities across the world.

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