A headline in Ha’aretz announces Jerusalem Plans to Use Palestinian Land for Jewish Cemetery’s Visitor Center.
Really, what Palestinian land?
At least the Mount of Olives Cemetery is acknowledged to be Jewish.
Over the last 3.000 years, 150,000 Jews have been buried in the Mount of Olives Cemetery.
Except, of course from 1948-1967, when Jordan occupied the land and the sacred, ancient Jewish burial site was destroyed. No Jews had access to the graves during the Jordanian occupation.
The being destroyed part is still happening. Grave stones are ruined. Fires set. TV monitors vandalized and burnt to the ground. Dozens of my photos could be used for dozens of other blog posts.
However, it is the inflammatory headline in Ma’an News – Israel fast tracks plan to take over ‘highly sensitive’ area near Al-Aqsa – that has my blood pressure elevated and prompting a response.
The Israeli government has fast-tracked a controversial plan to take over a plot of land in a “highly sensitive area” — some 300 meters away from Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City — for the purposes of establishing a visitor center, according to Israeli NGO Peace Now.
Way to go Peace Now!
Peace never – with such outrageous and misleading information.
This is the view of The Old City from Mount of Olives, Al-Aqsa mosque is at the far top left, the Dome of the Rock on the right.
300 meters? Maybe. But a threat! No, more like serious incitement from Arab media.
“It’s impossible to ignore the location and political context prevailing at the site,” said Hagit Ofran, coordinator of the settlement watch team at the Peace Now organization.”
On a regular basis, Jewish mourners and visitors are attacked with fire bombs and stones when trying to reach the cemetery. Since security cameras have been burnt to the ground, it should seem like a good idea to build a safe haven of a visitor’s center.
It is wonderful Peace Now is so concerned about the location and site today.
Perhaps one day they will notice, where the cemetery ends, and the housing begins.
It might be easier for them to see in this close up. Jordanians desecrated the cemetery and used grave stones to build roads and more. However, how many know that houses were built over of ancient graves?
The latest incitement using Al-Aqsa is so ridiculous, if it was not so serious it would be laughable.
