|
| Week ending Shabbat, February 10, 2007 |
22 Shevat, 5767 |
|
Huge Archeological Find 'Rattles Islamic Cage'
On Monday, Islamic Movement leaders called for their followers to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque in droves in an attempt to halt construction of the bridge leading to the Mugrabi Gate. The Mugrabi Gate is the only entrance Jews are allowed to use to enter the Temple Mount. Islamic leaders said that reinforcement of the bridge "may collapse the mosques on the Temple Mount." In fact, it is the Muslims who have done enormous damage to the sites on the Temple Mount trying to remove all traces of Jewish history and the Temple.
Tuesday morning great restrictions were placed on Moslem worshipers allowed to the Temple Mount, and the Jerusalem police were out in force at the excavation work-site, in anticipation of a fierce Arab reaction to the work. Even though it was less violent than expected, rock-throwers rioted in eastern and northern Jerusalem. Eleven Arabs were arrested. Terrorist groups also fired four Kassam rockets, in two waves, claiming to retaliate for the excavation work. The locations targeted were first sensitive infrastructures installations outside Ashkelon, then the western Negev. Three hours later, two more rockets smashed down near Sderot, including one that landed in a nearby community. No one was hurt.
The Antiquities Authority is carrying out a "salvage excavation," a preparatory operation before the construction of a new pedestrian pathway to the Temple Mount. The existing one (shown above), leading to the Mugrabi Gate, was rebuilt over the past two years after earthquake and weather damage, and cuts off much of the women's prayer area at the Western Wall. The small dig, fifty yards away from the walls, is meant to ensure that no important artifacts are damaged by the walkway's construction, which is expected to be completed in eight months. Such exploratory digs are required by Israeli law in the ancient city.
Jerusalem archaeologist Yuval Baruch said that the excavations are not at all near the Temple Mount, and that the Arabs have no reason to protest. Jerusalem District Police Chief Ilan Franko agreed, adding that the works were coordinated in advance with the Moslem Waqf that oversees the Temple Mount. Arab leaders were unfazed, however, and continued to stoke the fires of conflict. Hamas Authority leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Moslems all over Israel, including in the "Palestinian" Authority (PA)-controlled areas, to "prevent" the continuation of the work, and Fatah figures made similar calls. Arab Ministers of Knesset (MKs) Tzartzour and Zechalke showed up in the Old City and demanded to see the excavation plans, while MK Taleb A-Sana warned of the outbreak of "a third intifada." Other Arab leaders warned Israel of the dangers of "playing with fire."
Many feel that the Arab rage was actually caused by other archaeological finds in the area, which disprove the Arab theory developed over the past ten years claiming that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were never historically Jewish. Doron Spielman, Director of Development for the City of David foundation, says that anti-Zionists and Arabs truly have something to complain about. Spielman identified the find of a 150-foot-wide staircase and an accompanying roadway leading directly up to the Temple from the Siloam Pool. He explained that the many thousands of Jews who arrived in Jerusalem three times a year would have used that stairway on their way from ritually immersing in the Pool to reach the Temple (thus verifying Jewish ownership of this highly contested real-estate). A representative of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful movement stated, "There has been a recent discovery in the City of David which has the Arabs literally 'pooing in their pajamas.' They have found the original Pool of Siloam which according to measurements, provided mikvah for 10,000 Jews/pilgrims per hour! Leading to and from this huge pool they have found the original 150 foot long stairs... one set leading down to the mikvah (baptismal) for the unclean pilgrims and an even larger set for the purified olim leading directly to the Temple Mount, underground but above these stairs, with rooms all along the path. They have found inscribed tablets, coins, and documentation of all kinds. The significance of this is huge!! It means the Temple really existed. These stairs and pool were built by Herod, and revelation of all this means the Arabs/Muslims are liars, and they know the meaning (of this find) all too well. That is why they are scared to death, and why they are calling for a third intifada. We shall have an official Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement article on these finds very soon. This could turn ugly very fast."
On Wednesday Israeli police arrested Sheikh Raed Salah (pictured right), leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, in the Old City of Jerusalem after he tried to force his way into the archeological site near the Temple Mount. A Jerusalem court ordered the Islamic Movement Leader Sheikh Raed Salah in Israel to stay out of the Old City of Jerusalem for the next ten days. Salah said he plans to visit the Temple Mount on Thursday, despite court orders. Fatah's Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades threatened to attack synagogues if Israel continued excavations near the Temple Mount ahead of the planned construction of a new bridge to the Mugrabi Gate. "The sanctity of the Al-Aksa Mosque should not be less than that of the synagogues," the group announced. Moslem leaders have called on "Palestinians" to protest and hold processions until the construction ceases.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel's excavation work at the Mugrabi gate near the Temple Mount was a "provocative action which would lead to the deterioration of hostilities in the region." The Iranian president added that "destruction, conflict and tension constitute the nature of the Zionist regime." He also called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the world Muslim states to "foil the devilish plot of the Israeli regime," and slammed the United Nations over what he described as "their silence in the face of the incident." Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini echoed Ahmadinejad's statement, claiming that "the destruction of al-Aqsa (Mosque) was part of a premeditated plot against Muslims." A few hours earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Jerusalem excavations and called on Islamic nations to retaliate against Israel. "The world of Islam should show a serious reaction to the Zionist regime's insult to Al-Aqsa Mosque." "Silence is not an option given these actions, the Muslim world must respond," said Khamenei. Khamenei did not say what sort of response he intended, but said Israel should be made to "regret" what it is doing.
Jews were blocked Thursday from reaching the Kotel (Western Wall) Prayer Plaza by the hundreds of Israeli-Arab protestors. Islamic clerics leading the demonstration as well as Arab politicians threatened an "Intifada worse than the previous one in 2000" if the Israel Antiquities Authority did not immediately halt the repair work and excavations at the site. Peretz, in his letter - which Olmert's office said was delivered to the press before it was delivered to Olmert - quotes Defense Ministry official IDF General (res.) Amos Gilad, who claims the work damages relations with Arab and Muslim nations. The Labor Party Chairman wrote his own opinion that the construction would create friction with the Arab world instead of maintaining calm. The Prime Minister's Office rejected Peretz's call. A statement was issued as follows:
"The restoration of the Mugrabi path after the place collapsed and was declared a dangerous structure was done in complete coordination with all parties, including foreign countries, relevant Muslim officials and international bodies. As has been explained, this work is being carried on outside the Temple Mount, and the repairs do not constitute any damage to the Mount or Islamic holy places."
Meanwhile, Muslims are escalating their threats and violence throughout the Middle East, including in Israel's own Knesset and among Israeli-Arab leaders. Arab Knesset Member Taleb El-Sana (Ra'am-Ta'al) called upon the Organization of the Islamic conference to meet on the issue of "Israeli damage to the Temple Mount." El-Sana echoes the Department of Arab and International Relations (DAIR) of the "Palestinian" Authority, which claimed Israel has begun "demolishing two rooms in [the] Al-Aqsa mosque...in line with the Israeli plans to demolish the entire holy shrine and build the alleged Soleiman [sic] temple in its place."
Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said, "The Arabs actually want the Mughrabi Gate passway to collapse, so that they will be able to close the only gate that is under Jewish control. That will end the era of Jewish visitation rights to the Temple Mount. They have been waiting for this for a long time, and that's why they don't want us to refurbish it."
A week of tensions reached its peak Friday afternoon, when police forced their way into the Temple Mount compound, firing stun grenades at rioters who hurled stones, metal shards, and Molotov cocktails at policemen shortly after Islamic Friday prayers ended. Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi explained the disturbances were sparked by a group of masked youths who managed to infiltrate the site despite the over-45 age restriction. Five Arab youths were arrested outside the Old City, police said, for hurling stones and inciting for violence. A total of seventeen arrests were made. A number of "worshipers" who barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa Mosque to avoid police arrest were convinced by Arab MKs to vacate peacefully after police officer promised not to arrest them for throwing stones. Over 3,000 policemen were deployed in Jerusalem as police raised the level of alert. The controversial excavations were paused for the weekend, but were slated to resume Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Nazareth Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, addressed a crowd of thousands, saying, "Know that the Israeli establishment, which wants to conquer al-Aqsa, has already started to destroy part of the mosque. A few days ago (Israel) started to destroy important and holy elements to the Muslim world, from the era of Salah a-Din." Some 5,000 protestors marched in Nazareth (photo right) demanding the construction be stopped. The demonstrators waved signs that declared "Israel has started a world war," and waved PLO and Islamic Movement flags. Salah, the central orator at the rally, threatened the Israeli government: "You are playing with fire, and whoever plays with fire will get burned in the end. Your construction will damage al-Aqsa, and whoever damages al-Aqsa - we'll destroy his house." As the rally drew to a close, Sheikh Salah called on the crowd of thousands to come to the Temple Mount Saturday to continue protests.
Ruby Rivlin Running for President
On Monday, Ruby Rivlin, a five-time Knesset Member of the Likud Party, sent a letter to his fellow legislators. In it he said, "At the end of my term [in 2005] as the Speaker of the 16th Knesset, I became aware that many of you - from all party factions and without regard to political affiliation - viewed me as a worthy candidate for this lofty post. I was happy to discover that even now, many of you continue to support me, and that this support continues cross party lines. The time has come for me to turn to you with the respect due to the Presidency and the Knesset and officially request your support for my candidacy for the Presidency." Rivlin is known for his pro-Land of Israel views, and was a leading member of the Likud camp known as the Rebels (they referred to themselves as "Loyalists") who strongly opposed then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal from Gaza and northern Shomron. Rivlin is a descendant of the 18th-century Gaon of Vilna. He was born in September of 1939 in Jerusalem to a family that traces its Jerusalem roots back several generations. He is married and has four children. Rivlin has a law degree and previously worked as a lawyer. He also attained the rank of Major in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). He served as Communications Minister from 2001-2003, and was a founding member of the Jerusalem lobby in the Knesset.
Rivlin is the first to officially declare his candidacy for the Presidency, though Shimon Peres has hinted strongly that he will run. Other names that have been mentioned are former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Labor MK Collette Avital.
Concerning the position of Israeli President Rivlin said, "The citizens of Israel are worthy of a President who sees his position as exalted and honorable, and not as a consolation prize."
Ashkenazi Confirmed as Chief of Staff
Sunday morning, the Israeli government unanimously approved the appointment of Gabi Asheknazi as the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the start of the cabinet meeting that "Gabi is an esteemed commander and leader with an impressive history in the IDF for many years. I have no doubt that he will lead the IDF to deal with everything it has to deal with, to complete fitness and to essential accomplishments for the security of the State of Israel." Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that the new army chief's term of office would last four years instead of three in order to avoid a public discourse over the length of his term, as has happened in the past. "Four years are a suitable period of time for the chief of staff to leave his impression on the IDF," Peretz said as he announced his decision.
Ashkenazi, who is fifty-three years old, served most of his military career in the Northern Command, but he fought with Southern Command soldiers in his early days. In 1972, he joined the Golani Brigade and fought in the Yom Kippur war a year later. He also took part in Entebbe operation and was injured in the Litani operation in Lebanon. By 1980, he was commanding a Golani battalion and during the first Lebanon war he was the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade. He became popular among combat soldiers during his tenure as Golani commander between 1986 and 1988, after which he served as Northern Command intelligence chief. In the early nineties he was appointed commander of the Northern Command armored brigade. From 1992 to 1994 he headed civil the IDF's administration operations in southern Lebanon and worked closely with South Lebanon Army officers. He then served for four years as the Head of Operations at the General Staff. In the summer of 1998 he was appointed as Northern Command Chief. In 2002 he was appointed deputy chief of staff and resigned two years later when he lost to Major General Dan Halutz, who was former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's choice for chief of staff. He officially retired from the IDF in May 2005, and was appointed director-general of the Ministry of Defense.
Kinneret on the Upswing
The winter rains continue to have their effect on the national water supply, hiking up the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) by its biggest one-day jump this winter: five centimeters. The record increase was registered on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the Kinneret jumped yet another three centimeters. The Sea is Israel's largest freshwater reservoir and its standard of measure of the country's water supply. It currently stands 10.1 feet lower than its optimal level. The rains of the past few days are beginning to have an effect on the Kinneret, raising it 11 centimeters in the past three days. Eighty centimeters of snow (31.5 inches) were added to the ski slopes of Mount Hermon in the north. The Kinneret has risen more than a foot (33 centimeters) in the past six weeks. The sea covers an area of sixty-four square miles between Tiberias and the Golan Heights, and is at its deepest point about 44 meters (144 feet) deep. Every ten centimeters of height in the Kineret, the nation's primary source of drinking water, represent some 17 million cubic meters of water, or roughly 3.5 times Israel's national consumption. The Kinneret is fed by a number of fresh water streams to its north, and also has salty springs at the lake bottom and along its shores.
New Tour of Israel Planned
The Tzemach Institute has joined forces with the Christian Friends Of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) in planning a special tour of the heartland of biblical Israel. Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life. The tour has been coordinated with Sondra Baras of CFOIC and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
More information | Questions
|
Tzemach News Service [TNS] is a ministry of: Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies
This week's sources: Arutz Sheva, Fars News Agency, Iranian State Television, Israel National Radio, Israel Today, Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement, Ynet News.
| | |
