Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib: Preventing entry to Al-Aqsa will be an earthquake with aftershocks far beyond Palestine and the region (Al-Jazeera)
Occupied Jerusalem -
“An unprecedented decision that amounts to declaring a religious war on more than 2,000 million Muslims.” This is how the head of the Freedoms Committee of the Higher Follow-up Committee inside the Palestinian Authority, Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, described the decision of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to impose restrictions on the entry of Palestinians inside the country. Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan; In response to the recommendation of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Al-Khatib stated, during an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net, that this “clash” will have unprecedented consequences and effects on Palestine and the entire region, stressing that the Palestinian people will not submit to the decision to prevent them from praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially during the month of Ramadan.
The following is the text of the interview:
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that the army and the Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) warned of the area being ignited due to restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan.
Israeli Channel 13 reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the proposal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben… pic.twitter.com/r1TYRa19yg
- Al Jazeera Net | Jerusalem (@Aljazeeraquds) February 19, 2024
First of all, what do you think of the decision to restrict the entry of Palestinians from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan?
This decision is characterized by two characteristics: hatred and stupidity. Because whoever takes such a step is a hateful person because of his knowledge of the sensitivity and sanctity of the time, “the month of Ramadan,” and the place, “Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The decision also indicates its stupidity; Because he does not know the nature of a Muslim waiting for this season to spend some of his days in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Therefore, this decision is historic and unprecedented, and comes in the context of the crisis that the Israeli establishment is experiencing with the presence of a right-wing leadership represented by Netanyahu and Ben Gvir.
Every year, before Ramadan, we hear about preparations to demonize it, but this demonization has turned into an act represented by preventing us from going to our Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first love. This is a clash with our faith that has no explanation other than declaring religious war, not against the two million Palestinians inside, nor the 14 million total Palestinian people. Nor 400 million Arabs; Rather, it is a declaration of war on two thousand million Muslims by confronting their faith.
Why did Netanyahu ignore the recommendations of the police and Shin Bet and choose the most extreme recommendation, despite its danger?
He ignored her because he wanted to reach this result, for things to flare up and for the situation to deteriorate. Because this would prolong his rule and postpone the elections. He only cares now about how long he stays in the prime minister's chair in Israel, and so he ignored and violated the recommendations of the Shin Bet and the police.
We all know that Netanyahu's government is based on direct support for right-wing parties. He considers himself dependent on a rope around his neck being pulled by Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Israeli society has handed over its reins to those who will inevitably lead it into the abyss.
Fears among the occupation security services before Ramadan about the ignition of #Jerusalem and the #West_Bank.. Here are the most prominent events that Al-Aqsa witnessed during the last three years, which led to the outbreak of the Battle of Saif Al-Quds and the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood pic.twitter.com/tyzCLrI7Ca
- Al Jazeera Net | Jerusalem (@Aljazeeraquds) February 19, 2024
Did the Palestinians’ silence regarding the violation of Al-Aqsa since October 7 lead to this result?
What has happened since the seventh of last October are conditions that have imposed themselves on all the Palestinian people, with differences between the Palestinians of the interior and the people of the West Bank. Unfortunately, due to the presence of the Security Coordination Authority (referring to the Palestinian Authority), which was a heavy stick that contributed to the implementation of Israeli policies on our people.
I do not think that this decision came from reading past events. Rather, it has always been on the minds of religious groups, especially regarding the issue of storming Al-Aqsa, performing prayers there and dividing it, and now the circumstances have come to implement it, due to the belief that the Palestinian people are in a state of clinical death.
But I am certain that the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque has always had special calculations, the truth of which is known only to those who have knowledge of the nature of peoples. I am certain that Al-Aqsa Mosque will be an earthquake with aftershocks not only in the region, but beyond that.
To what extent is the announcement of the restriction decision, before a final decision is made, a measure of the Palestinians’ pulse and reaction before implementing it on the ground?
Announcing a government meeting first and waiting for what comes out of it, and following up on its decisions, is not a test of the pulse as much as it is a proactive policy through which Netanyahu and his government wanted to put the dots on the letters early. They know what they want, and the media that accompanied the decision knows its seriousness, and hence this media shock was unprecedented, even in the Israeli media, which described it as a disaster and a real danger.
What is the danger of the decision on the future of Al-Aqsa Mosque, changing the status quo there, and confirming its division?
I confirm that this decision will not find its way to light. Because I am confident that our people will not give up their love for Al-Aqsa Mosque, specifically in the month of Ramadan. Since the Omari conquest, Al-Aqsa has been subjected to two occupations. The Crusader who left after 90 years, and the Israeli who will inevitably leave despite the passage of 75 years.
But the features of the next stage will be decided not only by Netanyahu, but also by our Palestinian people, who will not surrender Al-Aqsa to these brutal policies.
The occupation did not talk about restrictions on settlers storming Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, especially during Purim. What are the consequences?
There are seasons of prominent raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the most prominent of which are on the holidays of Passover and Purim, and others on the Day of Atonement and Rosh Hashanah, and some of them intersect with the month of Ramadan, as happened in past years, but the intersection of Purim with Ramadan, in light of these restrictions and decisions, will result in, in my estimation, something beyond imagination. Al-Aqsa will be targeted.
Once again, no scenario can be drawn that approximates the reality of the circumstances that Al-Aqsa will go through. This is a historic month, an unprecedented Ramadan, and it will have unprecedented repercussions.
How can the Palestinians in Jerusalem and inside confront this decision in light of the security grip?
The Supreme Follow-up Committee for the Arab masses had a very clear position in rejecting this decision and calling for its revocation. There is no doubt that a meeting will be held soon to study it, and it will be followed by a coordination meeting in Al-Aqsa Mosque with the Islamic Endowments Department and the National and Islamic Forces in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, as is usual.
Our people cannot accept this decision, meaning that “they will not say, ‘We hear and we obey. We will not go to Al-Aqsa,’ especially those who are accustomed to crowning their annual worship in Al-Aqsa during the blessed month of Ramadan. This is a large percentage of the people, and no one will be able to prevent it.
We will go to Al-Aqsa Mosque. If they attack us or prevent us, this is a responsibility they bear. We go to pray, to worship, to perform Tahajjud in the mosque, like every year, and we are not committing a sin or violating a law by praying there.
Source: Al Jazeera