The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque on Temple Mount

Myth: “a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence. An ill-founded belief held uncritically esp. by an interested group” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

First to clarify: The Al Aqsa Mosque itself is not a myth. It is located in Jerusalem on what the Jews call Temple Mount and what Arabs refer to as the Noble Sanctuary, which also includes the more well-known structure, the Dome of the Rock. Many, including a large number of Muslims themselves, confuse Al Aqsa Mosque with the Dome of the Rock; they are different buildings. I’ve personally walked on Temple Mount, right up to the steps of the Dome of the Rock, but I did not approach the mosque.

The myth is in the historical and contemporary significance this mosque bears regarding Muslim claims to Temple Mount and to Jerusalem … indeed, to all of Israel. Was the legend that the Prophet Mohammed travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night, then ascended to heaven from the Noble Sanctuary, fact or fiction? Whether Mohammed’s mysterious trip can be considered credible depends heavily on identifying Al Aqsa Mosque as the site (mosque) of his supposed visit. Should the Noble Sanctuary be classified a sacred Muslim shrine at all, let alone the third holiest site of Islam?

Distinguishing between fact and fiction is of vital importance because it is Temple Mount in Jerusalem that is the very heart and soul of Israel and the Jewish people. The status of Temple Mount is the core of the current conflict (dispute) between Jew and Arab in Israel; although there are certainly other reasons, not the least of which is the ancient animosity between the two peoples.

Quoting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu:

“Our generation had a great privilege—we saw the words of the prophet come true. We saw the rise of Zion, the return of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the ingathering of exiles and our return to Jerusalem. We will make sure Jerusalem’s golden light will shine on our people, and spread the light of Jerusalem to the whole world. We will protect Jerusalem, because Israel without Jerusalem is like a body without a heart … Our heart will never be divided again.”

Benjamin echoed the prophetic promise of God through Isaiah:

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home” (Isaiah 60:1-4).

So, too, do Palestinian Arabs claim Jerusalem as theirs. In fact, they think all of Israel belongs to them. It is predominately the Al-Aqsa Mosque that rivets Muslim attention, and generates overt Arab hostility against the Jews, such as intifada.

(Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock right center / Al-Aqsa Mosque in left center, directly left of the trees)

Muslim intifada is simply a terroristic uprising, a strategy employed when it became all too evident that Arab nations could not defeat Israel in war. That was proven in the miraculous Israeli victory over Egypt and Syria in the Six-Day War. Then again through Israel’s stunning victory in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Thereafter, terrorist cells such as Hamas and Hezbollah resorted to propaganda, BDS, and missile/mortar launchings into Israel. With the Palestinians staging the first large intifada in 2000, when former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stepped foot on Temple Mount on September 28^th, 2000. It was the “desecration” of the Noble Sanctuary by Ariel Sharon that sparked this five year period of violence—mostly suicide bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that killed scores of innocent Israelis—given the name, “Al-Aqsa Intifada.”

Muslims contend that Temple Mount does not belong to the Jews, partially because it is the third holiest location in Islam. Never mind that Temple Mount is the HOLIEST place, the most sacred of all sites to Judaism and the Jews! That’s irrelevant to the Arabs and seemingly to much of the world. As a result of blatant lies from none other than Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who incited his people by falsely accusing the Jews of desecrating or intending to desecrate holy sites in Jerusalem (especially Temple Mount), young Palestinians instigated their “knife intifada” last October. These lone wolf attacks which also included car rammings, Molotov cocktails, and shootings soon became a concerted effort by individual Palestinians to kill as many Jews as possible. Thankfully, the number of attacks have subsided.

Using (the Myth of) Al-Aqsa to Accomplish the Palestinian Agenda

It’s crystal clear that the two intifadas, the BDS movement, the insidious propaganda—that fosters a heart of hatred and a mentality of murder in their children through indoctrination beginning in elementary school—are all part and parcel of Palestinian intent to protect the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque from “the filthy feet of the Jews” (as Abbas stated in an attempt to incite Palestinian uprisings).

Some, and I agree with them, have gone so far as to say that without misguided Palestinian passion for and unwarranted defense of their Temple Mount claims, there would be less violence in Israel. Indeed, there would be minimal cause (excuse) for the Palestinians to launch their intifadas or a basis to justify (rationalize) their actions to the world other than dishonest assertions of Jewish takeover or desecration of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

For example: Just a few weeks ago the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammed Hussein, declared that Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Al Aqsa Mosque to, “defend the mosque from Israel’s attempts to Judaize it.” (Whatever that means?)

Oh, there’s always the allegation of Jewish “settler occupation” of the West Bank, but those inaccurate accusations have been going on for decades. The latest Palestinian choice of confrontation centers on the more ancient and ostensibly more religious rationale that protection of the Noble Sanctuary supposedly supports their agenda to harass, terrorize, and attack the Jews.

Thus, it’s imperative that we examine the historical basis for Islamic motives to defend their holy sites. In doing so, we will once again confirm that Muslim attempts to rewrite the history of this ancient conflict have no basis in fact. We will see the rest of the story, the empirical evidence that will undermine Palestinian claims that they alone have rights to Temple Mount. Hopefully, this will help dispel the flawed opinions or imprecise impressions that many in the Western world (as well as Muslims themselves) have concerning Jewish and Islamic heritage of Temple Mount … indeed, of all Jerusalem and Israel.

First, however, I would like to present some excerpts from one of several Eye of Prophecy articles that touch on the subject of Jewish versus Arab history, regarding Israel.

In italics the following excerpts are from the Eye of Prophecy article, A Palestinian State? (No, Say Many Arabs), published 1-11-14.

Then, in June, 1967 one of the most amazing conflicts in military history began and ended in less than a week! To this day it is still referred to as the Six-Day War, in which Israel soundly defeated a coalition of Arab nations, and once again against staggering odds. Although Israel took the offensive in this war, they had no other choice; it was crystal clear that surrounding Arab nations, particularly Syria and Egypt, planned to attack Israel. In order to assure victory and protection against further invasion, Israel seized the following territories that had previously been under Jordanian, Syrian, or Egyptian control.

Golan Heights: A high mountainous area near Israel’s northern border with Syria … a crucial strategic location to prevent Syrian incursions in and attacks on Israel.

Gaza Strip: A fairly narrow strip of land along the southeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in which Jews lived alongside a majority of Arabs.

West Bank: So-called because of its location along the west bank of the Jordan River, in the east central portion of Israel. Historically and rightfully called Judea and Samaria as regions in Israel’s ancient homeland. Now occupied predominately by Palestinian Arabs.

Sinai Peninsula: The large, mostly desert southern land mass that currently separates Israel from Egypt proper.

East Jerusalem: Technically, a segment of the West Bank; but, nevertheless, still an integral and indispensable part of the entire city of Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, Israel partially bowed to international pressure exerted primarily by the United Nations and, over varying intervals of time, returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and most of the West Bank to Jordan. Egypt and Jordan subsequently allowed the Gaza Strip and West Bank Arabs to govern themselves. The only sector that Israel didn’t relinquish to any degree was the Golan Heights; it was simply too dangerous to return this tactical high ground to the Syrians…

However, the most significant of all was the Israeli decision, soon after the Six-Day War, to return East Jerusalem to Jordanian control, including the Temple Mount itself. This was a colossal concession; in fact, to many Jews then and now, a monumental mistake.

To comprehend just how painful this world-opinion induced surrender (of the Temple Mount) was to the vast majority of Jews, listen to the message delivered by Israeli Chief Army Chaplain Rabbi Shlomo Goren to the IDF paratroopers who liberated all of Jerusalem, including the beloved Western Wall in June, 1967: “Soldiers of Israel, God be with you valiant warriors! I am speaking to you from the Western Wall, remnant of our Holy Temple. The dream of all the generations has been fulfilled before our eyes. The City of God, the Temple site, the Temple Mount, and the Western Wall—symbol of the Jewish people’s messianic redemption—have been delivered this day by you, heroes of the Israel Defense Forces.”

I vividly remember watching on television battle hardened IDF soldiers weeping at the Western Wall, which is also called the Wailing Wall. They shed tears of grief over hundreds of years of oppression and defeat; but mostly tears of joy over the astounding capture of Jerusalem and rightful return of Temple Mount to the Jews. It was, as heralded by Rabbi Goren, truly an event of messianic proportion (a prophetic precursor to the imminent return of Messiah). I shed tears of joy with them at this stunning historical event, only to be filled with sorrow when the Temple Mount was relinquished back to the Arabs…

Concerning today’s Temple Mount, Jews are not allowed to express any gesture of worship or prayer or planned assemblies on the Temple Mount. All such activity must be confined to the Western Wall just below Temple Mount. Can you imagine that? If not, then imagine that you as an American citizen would not be permitted to set foot on the hallowed ground of the Statue of Liberty. It’s pretty much the equivalent of restrictions placed on Jews with regard to the Temple Mount, their most holy place, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, in the holy land itself.

Rest assured: One day God will change all that and return all of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount back to the Jews through their (our) Messiah! Listen to what the Lord says concerning the end times restoration of Israel … which is taking shape in Israel daily, i.e. the massive return of Jews to the reborn sovereign State of Israel.

“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy” (Ezekiel 37: 26-28). *Note: the word holy means separate, distinct, set aside for a special purpose.

What else does God say about Jerusalem and the Temple Mount? “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore” (Micah 4: 1-3, italics for emphasis).

The Three Holiest Sites of Islam

Let’s continue today’s article by looking more closely at the history of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the context of two other (holier) places in Islam.

Holiest Place in Islam

Mecca: Site of the Kaaba (including the Black Stone) and the AL Haram Mosque. According to Muslim tradition, Abraham and his son, Ishmael, built the Kaaba as a symbol of the house of God, at which time God (Allah) established the Hajj rituals. Obviously, such an event can be found nowhere in the Bible, which is the case for nearly all Muslim writings or traditions. Whenever Muslims refer to Abraham, he is always (only) the father of Ishmael. Rather, than Isaac, who Scripture unequivocally declares is the Promised Child chosen over Ishmael … the child who would continue the Jewish Race and be the ancestor of the Messiah. Nor is there any evidence of Abraham ever being in Mecca. In short, it is a tradition that is not affirmed by historical records, including any such reference to the Hajj. That came later after Mohammed started the Islamic religion.

(The Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

Second Most Holy Place

Medina: Next in line of the most sacred sites is the Masjid Al Nabawi Mosque, built by Mohammed next to the house where he lived, with his tomb located in the mosque. Muslims normally include this mosque in their Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, required of every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their lifetime. According to Mohammed, Allah commanded him to reinstate all of the rituals of Hajj just as (also according to Mohammed) they were established by Allah through Abraham. Again, there is no historical record of such rites until the time of Mohammed. But that is the case with most of Islam, i.e. invention or reinvention of Biblical history to suit this new religion, which (in a Johnny-come-late fashion) surfaced over 2,500 years after God called Abraham to be the father of the Jewish nation and over 1,500 years after King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Third Holiest Place

Jerusalem: The first two holiest places in Islam are understandable given the history that Mohammed and the Arabs lived in Saudi Arabia, particularly Mecca and Medina. However, Jerusalem as the third holiest Islamic site is utterly baffling (more like implausible), beginning with the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. In Arabic, Al-Aqsa simply means, “the farthest.” Both the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque were built AFTER Mohammed allegedly had been whisked away from Mecca to Jerusalem in one night’s travel, then ascended to heaven from the Noble Sanctuary.

Despite Muslim attempts to rewrite history by maintaining that neither Solomon’s nor Herod’s Temple ever existed or if they did exist not on Temple Mount, Biblical and secular history overwhelmingly proves otherwise. Let’s look at some dates and sequence of events to see how they match up with the Islamic narrative … whether Mohammed even set foot in Jerusalem, thereby, making it holy only to Muslims for that reason alone.

Mohammed was born in 570 AD and died on June 8, 632. In the year 620, he was said to have travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem on a winged steed, from where (Temple Mount) he visited both heaven and hell. Whereas, there’s no real problem with these dates, there are enormous inaccuracies with the rest of the story.

(Depiction of Mohammed’s Winged Steed)

The dilemma begins with the historical evidence that the Al-Aqsa Mosque was built in 696 AD by Khalif Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwar who had earlier built the Dome of the Rock; or in 705 AD by Mohammed’s son, in memory of Mohammed’s magical journey. Whichever date is accurate, neither can accommodate the timeline of Mohammed’s fanciful journey. The reason: the after-the-fact story told by Mohammed’s followers is that the “farthest” mosque was purportedly located in Jerusalem.

Question: How could Mohammed have travelled to a (any) mosque in Jerusalem in 620 AD when, in fact, there wasn’t a single mosque in Jerusalem until the Al-Aqsa was built decades later?!

Here is a quote from the Qur’an: “Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs, surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”

Although this Quranic verse mentions a night trip made by Mohammed (servant) from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to “the remote mosque,” it does not actually specify that this farthest mosque was in Jerusalem, or even that Mohammed then ascended to heaven. Moreover, when the Al-Aqsa was built to commemorate this enigmatic expedition (to another far away mosque that didn’t exist in Jerusalem), Muslims eventually designated Al-Aqsa as the actual remote mosque referenced in the Koran! Talk about arguing in a circle (circular reasoning)!

There’s more. Initially Islamic scholars firmly believed that the farthest mosque was a metaphor, signifying some unknown place between heaven and earth, not a specific physical location. In his earliest biography, Muslim historians depict Mohammed’s passage to heaven as a spiritual one only; additionally, this journey (in spirit) was directly from Mecca to heaven, not from Mecca to Jerusalem, then to heaven. Apparently, in the effort to make Mohammed’s mystical travels more plausible, Muslim historians changed the story to that of a physical pilgrimage to the farthest mosque or the “remote mosque” which they later decided should be in Jerusalem, that didn’t have a mosque until some 70-80 years afterward—what is now called the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

(Arabic Map Showing Mosque in Mecca and Temple Mount, Alleged Beginning and Ending of Mohammed’s Travel to Jerusalem)

Even more contradictory is the fact that the Koran refers to Israel as the adna al-ard, translated in English as the “closest land.” If Muslim tradition holds that Mohammed was taken to the farthest mosque (Al-Aqsa) or land (wherever that might have been), then how could that have been Jerusalem (Israel), which they claim is the nearest land?

The historians should have stuck with their initial interpretation, that Mohammed’s imaginative journey was spiritual only. To change it to a physical occurrence is to further reduce it to nothing more than a myth, what with the conflicting timelines and contradictory legend (language) of nearest (Israel) and farthest (mosque in Jerusalem) places where this event supposedly occurred.

There’s even more. Jerusalem, itself, is NEVER mentioned in the Koran … not once. Whereas, Jerusalem is referenced 669 times in the Bible and Zion (Jerusalem) 154 times. This is nothing short of an insurmountable obstacle to Muslim statements that not only Temple Mount, but all of Jerusalem belongs to them.

It’s simply inconceivable that the Koran, which was compiled in stages over many years, would not make one reference to Jerusalem, especially after the Arabs conquered Israel’s Holy City in 638 AD. Moreover, the Dome of the Rock was built by the Arabs because it was the site of the destroyed Jewish Temples, having nothing to do with Islam or the tale of Mohammed’s journey to the Holy City. The main purpose for building the Dome of the Rock was to prevent the construction of another Jewish Temple, and to erase the historical authenticity of Jewish rights to Temple Mount.

A Stunning Statement by an Egyptian Scholar

The following is taken from the April, 2016 edition of the Levitt Letter, an online and printed newsletter published by Zola Levitt Ministries:

“In an interview with Egypt’s CBC TV, Youssef Ziedan, director of the Manuscript Center and Museum at the Library of Alexandria, noted that the Koran never mentions Mohammed ascending to heaven, from Jerusalem or any other location. Citing ancient Islamic scholars, Ziedan continued: ‘The Prophet Mohammed, after being harassed by the Quraysh (tribe in Mecca), went to the city of Ta’if. On the road to Ta’if, there were two mosques: Al-Adna (‘the nearest’) Mosque and Al-Aqsa (‘the farthest’) Mosque.’

“Ziedan explained that the ‘Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) did not exist back then, and the city was not called Al-Quds. It was called Aelia, and it had no mosques.’ The stunned interviewer wondered if that meant that ‘there is no justification for the war (over Jerusalem), and we should just leave Al-Aqsa, which has nothing to do with us?’ Ziedan maintained, ‘Neither we nor the (Jews) have anything to do with it. That’s what I’m saying. People should think about this.’

‘Where would that lead us?’ asked the host.

Ziedan’s response: ‘To peace.’”

*Note: Only Messiah Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can and will bring lasting peace to Israel and to the world. Nevertheless, Zeidan’s response was on track. At the very least the Palestinians could/should no longer use religious heritage—based on the myth that the Al-Aqsa (or any mosque) had been visited by Mohammed in Jerusalem—to claim superiority over Jewish rights to Temple Mount, with Judaic jurisdiction meticulously documented by both Biblical and secular history and by archeological evidence.

During subsequent control of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, then again by the Arabs (Saladin) then the Ottoman Turks followed by the British in 1917, the Dome of the Rock gradually fell into disrepair. This and other historical evidence (factors) demonstrate that neither Muslim Arabs in surrounding countries nor even Palestinian Arabs in Israel placed much significance at all on their Noble Sanctuary. That is, not until Jews recaptured all of Jerusalem including Temple Mount during Israel’s spectacular Six-Day War victory. That changed everything. Since then, Palestinians have hotly disputed the rights to Temple Mount; including, but not limited to, their non-negotiable contention that Jerusalem (at least East Jerusalem) belongs to them and will be the capital of a Palestinian State.

Likewise, most Israelis contend that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and must never be divided into two capitals, or divided at all.

To further confirm Arab noticeable lack of pre-1967 interest in Jerusalem or the Muslim structures on Temple Mount, Daniel Pipes, President of the Middle East Forum stated in 2001 that, “the British government recognized the minimal Muslim interest in Jerusalem during World War I.”

The British understood how little significance Arabs placed on Jerusalem when they did not include the city as part of assigned Arab territories preceding the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Whatever (minimal) importance the Arabs placed on Jerusalem didn’t matter, as they turned down the partitions of the Balfour Declaration as well as the portion of Israel allocated to them in the United Nations resolution of 1947. The historical record is unmistakable: It’s not that the Arabs desperately wanted Jerusalem or control of Temple Mount (not until 1967). In fact, they had marginal interest in Jerusalem, and did little to maintain or improve the city’s infrastructure for hundreds of years.

Here is a quote from British negotiator, Henry McMahon, when Great Britain chose not to include Jerusalem as part of Arab controlled regions in the 1917 partition of Israel between Jews and Arabs: “…there was no place … of sufficient importance … further south of Damascus to which the Arabs attached vital importance.”

Another quote taken from Breaking News Israel article posted by contributing writer Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz on 3-16-16, citing Daniel Pipes who said: “A fourteen-century long pattern suggests that so long as Israel controls Jerusalem, Muslims will respond by focusing on the city and wanting to seize it. The knife-intifada is this moment’s tactic toward that end; after it duly fails, one should expect another—and another after that.”

Then Adam Berkowitz quotes Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut party in Israel and former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset: “This is part of the Islamic culture and their concept of a national entity, which is unlike the Western concept or that of the Jews. The Muslims believe that if they can conquer it (Jerusalem), culturally and then physically, the city belongs to Islam, even if it as no historical or religious connection to Islam.”

From our examination of the true history of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we now see more clearly that neither the mosque, nor Dome of the Rock, nor Noble Sanctuary (Temple Mount) have any real historical relevance to or connection with Islam’s purported interest in Jerusalem. Rather, they are merely a convenient excuse for Muslims to continue their concerted effort to expel or even eliminate (if they could) all Jews in Israel. It is not question of even one square foot of land on Temple Mount or anywhere else in Israel. It is a question of whether Palestinian Arabs and Muslim nations will ever recognize the sovereign state of Israel and the right of Jews to live in their ancient land, given to them by God himself. A land they occupied (in the positive connotation of the word) long before the Arabs, hundreds of years before Mohammed started the religion of Islam.

Ever so sadly, the conflict continues. Anti-Semitic animosity toward Jews has intensified not only in Muslim nations, especially Iran, but also in Europe and even the United States. Palestinian Arab hostility incessantly manifests itself in deceitful and sometimes absurd ways.

For example: PA Authority President Mahmoud Abbas intends to submit yet another resolution to the United Nations, demanding condemnation of Israel’s actions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Because there are no such Israeli “actions” to condemn, undoubtedly Abbas will fall back on the “Jewish occupation” of the West Bank including the worn-out lies about the illegal Jewish “settlers.”

Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article entitled Israeli Occupation … Fact or Myth? Posted on 5-16-15. Also, Jerusalem … A Capital without a Country, published 6-13-15.

Cameras on Temple Mount

Recently flyers were posted on Temple Mount encouraging Palestinians to destroy the surveillance cameras that will be installed, via an agreement between Israel and Jordan, which has custodial authority over Temple Mount as given to them by the Israelis. Ironically, the security cameras were originally suggested by Jordan’s King Abdullah II to US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who enthusiastically endorsed the idea. The cameras would show proof positive pictures of exactly who was doing what to whom or to what on Temple Mount. The idea was rejected by the Palestinian Authority with the ridiculous rationalization that the cameras would be used to, “arrest Palestinians under the pretext of incitement.”

What pretext? There is no pretext. The cameras will be monitored by Jordan as guardian over Temple Mount, which directly undermines the PA claim that Temple Mount authority belongs to them by virtue of the Al-Aqsa Mosque being there. Moreover, the surveillance would clearly show that no Israelis are “desecrating” anything on Temple Mount nor is the Al-Aqsa Mosque in any “danger” as preposterously alleged by the PA. Nor is there any “plot” by the Jews to change the “status quo” on Temple Mount. Conversely, the cameras would expose the constant harassment of Jews on Temple Mount by Palestinian rioting, particularly during Jewish holidays.

(Why Palestinians Do Not Want Cameras on Temple Mount … They Show Everything)

As said by Dr. Reuven Berko in an article posted by Israel Hayom on April 13^th, 2016:

“The surveillance grid set up in the area is meant to finally point to the real provocateurs who endanger the holy site, but the Palestinian Authority, which is ‘profoundly concerned’ with the integrity of Al-Aqsa mosque, is the one trying to sabotage this project, as it stands to undermine the influence of the site.”

Dr. Berko continues: “The project (camera installations) also undercuts the Palestinian Authority’s absurd attempts to use Al-Aqsa mosque as the anchor to its demand to have east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state, especially given the fact that all of Islam’s other holy cities—Mecca, Medina, Qom, Karbala, and Najaf—are not capital cities.”

Things to Ponder

Yes, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a myth. Not its current existence; rather the supposed ancient connection of Islam to Jerusalem based on Muhammad’s alleged travel to a “remote” mosque that didn’t exist at the time in Jerusalem. Muslim scholars also said that Israel was the “nearest land” to Mecca. Which is it … nearest or farthest? It can’t be both. Actually it’s neither. And, of all things, why wouldn’t Mohammed, himself, have included this miraculous journey to heaven in the Koran?

A strong clue to the answer: Just like the Koran contains no real miracles or fulfilled prophecies (of which the Bible is replete with both), Mohammed and his followers couldn’t risk the possibility that such a tale contained in the Koran might be disproven in succeeding generations.

Yet, Islam in general and Palestinian Muslim Arabs in particular base their rights to Temple Mount exclusively on this illusion. If their claim is even remotely possible, you would think that their holy book, the Koran, would mention Jerusalem just one time. But it doesn’t, and the reason is obvious: Not until 1967 did Muslims or Arabs give a hoot about Jerusalem, let alone contend that Jerusalem belongs to them and must be the capital of the Palestinian State.

Even Mecca, the most sacred site of Islam, is not the capital of Saudi Arabia! Nor is Medina! Where, then, does Jerusalem really rank in Islam?

(Riyadh, Capital of Saudi Arabia)

But the Bible is not a myth. Hundreds of prophecies concerning Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the return of the Jews to Israel. More remain unfulfilled until the glorious Day of the Lord, which is nearly upon us.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of all who have believed and received his Son, Messiah Jesus … He is the true and living God. He made man (and woman). All other gods are man-made.

His promises are forever true … worthy of our trust! His glory is great … worthy of our praise!

What the Lord says will happen, happens. What he says he will do, he does.

Listen to him:

“The Lord says, ‘Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me (Messiah Yeshua) to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling’” (Zechariah 2:10-13).