A state of condemnation and anger prevailed on Palestinian social media platforms after a picture of the Western Wall was hung in the office of the Appeals Committee of the Israeli Ministry of Interior in occupied Jerusalem, and the Golden Dome of the Rock, which is supposed to appear clearly behind the Western Wall, was deleted.
The Hebrew daily Haaretz published a report on Sunday about the photo from which the Golden Dome of the Rock in Al-Aqsa was deleted and hung in the reception room of the Central Appeals Committee's office, where Palestinians in Jerusalem are appealing building permits rejected by the municipality, according to the newspaper.
ילדים יקרים, התוכלו לזהות מה חסר בתמונה שתלויה במשרדי ועדת הערר המחוזית ירושלים? pic.twitter.com/nUG7B0S6op
— Yael Freidson יעל פרידסון (@YaelFreidson) March 26, 2023
Behind the Western Wall was the Dome of the Rock mosque but without its golden dome, before the office removed the image.
According to the newspaper, officials in the office claimed that the photos were hung by an outside company, and that the person who hung the photo may not have noticed the missing item, and the photo was removed "so as not to offend religious feelings."
The occupation removes the Dome of the Rock from the pictures that show the Al-Buraq Wall of Al-Aqsa
Mosque to mention and indicate to all the printers to know what is coming in their plans#التطبيع_خيانة #المسجد_الأقصى #القدس pic.twitter.com/Y65YUoaUdY
— Khaled Safi #فلسطين 🇵🇸 (@KhaledSafi) March 26, 2023
Palestinian activists denounced the removal of the Dome of the Rock from the photo, accusing the Israeli Interior Ministry of deliberately doing so, describing it as "malicious plans" that "emphasize the dangers of demolition that threaten the Dome of the Rock Mosque."
The "Palestinian Arab Front" issued a statement saying that the removal of the Dome of the Rock from the picture "reveals the plans of the occupation to demolish the Dome of the Rock and Judaize the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque," and called for Palestinian, Arab and international action to confront Zionist violations against Palestinian holy sites.
Commenting on the photo, activist Mohamed Shoukry described what happened as "malicious plans".
Malicious schemes. The occupation removes the Dome of the Rock from a photo of the Western Wall Square that was hung in the reception hall of the Appeals Committee of the Israeli Ministry of Interior in #القدس. pic.twitter.com/QMZFFxZWld
— Mo Shoukry | Mohamed Shukri (@mo_shkry) March 26, 2023
The page "Here Palestine" said that this picture reveals the plans of the occupation against Al-Aqsa Mosque, its courtyards and the Dome of the Rock, and confirms the dangers of demolition that threaten it.
A picture that reveals the occupation plans against Al-Aqsa Mosque, its courtyards and the Dome of the Rock, and confirms the dangers of demolition that threaten it.
Haaretz reported: The Dome of the Rock has been removed from a photo of the Western Wall plaza that was hung in the reception hall of the Appeals Committee of the Israeli Ministry of Interior in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/9dp8ae4795
— Here is Palestine (@Palestine27k) March 27, 2023
It is noteworthy that the Al-Aqsa Mosque consists of several buildings, and contains several landmarks numbering up to 200 landmarks, including mosques, domes, arcades, niches, pulpits, minarets, wells, and other landmarks.
Al-Aqsa Mosque includes both the Dome of the Rock (Golden Dome) located at the site of its heart, and the Tribal Mosque (with a lead dome) located in the southernmost point towards the Qibla.