While the world is busy with a proposed memorandum of understanding to end hostilities between Iran and the US and the media is making predictions about inflation and energy prices, Israel is aggressively laying out its expansionist colonialist policy. The latest casualty is Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel does not really understand the importance of Al Aqsa. Israel will not only be facing off with Iran-backed Hezbollah or Hamas. By transgressing Al-Aqsa, Israel is confronting the entire Muslim world — and Israel is definitely not up for it.
Israel has proven it does not know its limits. Israel does not seem to be thinking of any of the medium or long-term repercussions of its actions. It just wants to take whatever it can, while it can. It keeps on taking actions that provoke the enmity of those who could have been neutral. Its actions also embarrass its allies. It puts them in the position of defending the indefensible. It pushes them to distance themselves from Israel and to downplay their alliance with it.
It was reported last week that US special envoy Jared Kushner and American Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee were spearheading an attempt to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship over Al-Haram Al-Sharif. A document has been circulated proposing replacing Jordanian custodianship with that of a consortium of international and interfaith parties, including Muslim/Arab and Jewish representatives. When US Sen. Chris Van Hollen confronted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about it, Rubio replied: “I am not aware of those reports.” He added that the US has a great relationship with Jordan. While Rubio’s answer does not confirm the reports, it also fell short of refuting them.
Such a step could lead to an outbreak of violence across the region, according to Daniel Seidemann, a prominent Israeli-American lawyer.
These plans did not come out of a void. Israel has been transgressing Al-Aqsa for a while. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stormed the mosque several times since he took office in 2022. He has performed Jewish prayers and rituals that transgress the status quo designating Al-Aqsa exclusively as a site for Muslim worship. So, the plan is not really surprising for anyone who follows Israel’s malicious actions in Jerusalem and around Al-Haram Al-Sharif. The transgressions have been condemned by several states but they have not taken any punitive action as a response to Israel’s belligerence.
The status quo is a set of historical and legal arrangements initially put in place by the Ottomans that preserve the division and possession of holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The agreement specifies the administration of the sites, the rights of the different denominations and the tax arrangements, as well as the custodianship of those sites. It was respected by the British, who came after the Ottomans. However, Israel has recently been trying to erode the status quo. Its malicious actions have not been confined to Al-Aqsa. It has also been breaking the status quo when it comes to Christian holy sites.
The Israeli government fails to understand the gravity of its actions. It thinks that while the world is busy with the Iran war, it can get away with taking over Al-Aqsa. Israel has been undermining the waqf under the custodianship of Jordan. However, Israel’s actions and plans for Al-Aqsa are offending not only Jordan and the Hashemites but the entire Muslim world. Al-Aqsa is not just a symbolic site; it is the heart of the Islamic faith.
Israel thinks that while the world is busy with the Iran war, it can get away with taking over Al-Aqsa.
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib
So far, Jordan has not taken a confrontational position toward Israel. Nevertheless, if push comes to shove, it will not remain silent. Stripping the Hashemites of their custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque would be an existential threat to Jordan. Despite its peace treaty with Israel and US support for Amman, the latter would not acquiesce to giving up its custodianship. In this fight, Israel can be sure that Jordan would not be alone. It would have the entire Muslim world supporting it.
Even Muslim states that have signed peace agreements with Israel would be unable to maintain them if Israel admitted that it was planning to take over Al-Aqsa. Israel is known to push the limits as much as it can. So far, it feels that it can push the limits and nothing happens except for empty statements of condemnation. However, it does not know that once it reaches a certain threshold, those condemnations can turn into action. Then the US and the pro-Israel lobby will not be able to protect Tel Aviv. In fact, the entire West would find it difficult to protect Israel, especially given that it is transgressing not only Muslim sites but also Christian ones.
Israel should be careful and know its limits. In a speech last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Israel’s actions as a threat to humanity. This characterization is not an exaggeration. The entire world — not only the Muslim world — will stand against Israel if it continues its transgressions. Israel does not seem to understand that. It will probably continue with its vicious activities. It will continue to act with impunity and by the time it realizes it cannot go any further, it will be too late.
- Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.
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source https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647263
Categories: Al Aqsa Mosque, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine