LET us offer special prayers this Eid for the safety of Al Aqsa Mosque and our brothers and sisters in Palestine who are facing Israeli brutality and military force. They are threatened with tear gas, beaten and detained if they dare defy Israeli forces to protect their holy mosque and stand up for their right to defend their land. There seems to be no end to the tensions and hostilities fueled by Israeli provocations and injustices. Israel continues to steal Palestinian lands and destroy their homes, they have even hijacked their cultural heritage and are systematically eroding the Palestinian identity and humiliating them further by stripping them of their pride and dignity. Israeli moves to change the Muslim control of Islam's third holiest site has provoked Palestinian worshippers and enraged Muslims all over the world. The continued attempts by the Israeli occupiers to impose their own rules and policies on Al Aqsa compound and alter its Islamic character is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Muslim world. The sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque is under threat and Muslims are being prevented by brutal force from entering the mosque. Jewish settlers and extremists with the support of Israeli security forces recently stormed the mosque and attacked Muslim worshippers who refused to evacuate and allow the Jewish extremists to encroach upon their sacred site. What is more alarming is the blatant demands by Jewish settlers to demolish the mosque. They openly demand to resurrect in its place the ancient Temple of Solomon. Some were even caught with explosives trying to bomb the holy site. These violent extremists are motivated by an ancient myth that the ancient masonic scrolls of King Solomon and his treasure are buried underneath the holy mosque of all Muslims. That is why they continue their excavations beneath the mosque, which would ultimately cause its destruction. They are also on a mission to commit genocide against the rightful Palestinian inhabitants of Jerusalem because of an ancient prophecy that promises the return of Jews to a land that was denied to them thousands of years ago. Unfortunately the world continues to stand idle while they continue their killing spree and land grab. How long can we suffer because of such mythical delusions. Having said that the Arabs are willing to compromise and give peace a chance. The Arab peace plan of 2002 presented by the late King Abdullah offered a comprehensive peace deal that included normalization with Israel provided it returns to its pre June 1967 borders and accepts a two state solution that would allow the Palestinians a life of dignity and the legal ownership of their lands. However, Israel continues to reject the offer and refuses to define its borders while systematically expanding their territory by confiscating more lands, evicting Palestinians from their homes and burning their farmlands. What is happening in Jerusalem is a source of anxiety and threatens the stability of the whole world. Jewish extremists and Israeli injustices have fueled the rage of many in the Muslim world and have encouraged many others to join terrorist organizations and take up arms to fight injustices and support the helpless and the aggrieved. This situation cannot go on unchecked. It has reached a dangerous level. There are no borders that are safe anymore. World leaders are required to work together to maintain global justice and world peace. There should be stronger voices holding Israel accountable to its vicious genocide against innocent Palestinians in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories. The blind American support for Israel and the biased Western media that does not reveal the extent of Israeli atrocities makes matters worse. It instigates social and political unrest in Arab countries and creates more extremists in the Muslim world. Arab societies need to nurture more capable future leaders who are more principled, balanced and competent to lead their nations to greater heights. Leaders who can build powerful nations and become strong enough to stop Israeli atrocities and prevent further Israeli humiliations. The Arab Street is in rage because of the failure of politicians to stop Israeli aggressions that are the root cause of public resentment in the region. There can never be peace without justice and economic prosperity.
The images of Palestinian brothers and sisters, elders and children being exposed to daily aggressions by the Israeli occupier while the Arabs are engaged in wars against each other is a source of frustration and utter disdain. In addition, the Israeli inhumane policies include torturing and detaining children between the ages of 6 to 10. Human rights organizations report hundreds of children are detained in Israeli jails. They are subjected to threats and physical torture including beatings and sexual molestations during investigations. Israeli forces raid children's homes after midnight and arrest them without clear justification. The Israeli rule of terror has no limits. With no one to check them, Israel will be further emboldened to destroy Al Aqsa Mosque, the sacred holy site for all Muslims, and continue its apartheid policies to create greater Israel on Palestinian corpses and Muslim ruins, unless it is controlled by Arab resistance, global justice and international might. Will we ever achieve this goal? Can the Arabs, Muslims and the international community gather the will to implement global justice? It remains to be seen who will succeed in the end, the Israeli masonic power or the global political will.
— Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
