Activism - Temple Mount Travesty

2007-09-06T15:17:00.001-07:00

It is with a deep sense of sadness and anguish that I am writing this, but I believe this course of action needs to be taken.

The Muslim Waqf has been undertaking wanton destruction on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for an extended period of time. Recent photographs and video from the Temple Mount show the progress of their destruction. A trench 1,300 feet long and up to five feet deep has been carved in the most sacred spot to Judaism. The path of the destruction taken by the Islamic bulldozers has cut through the courtyard area of the Temple in an area known as the Women’s Court, among other areas. Many important artifacts from the Temple have been uncovered, and have been captured in pictures by the few people allowed to witness the destruction. Israeli archaeologists are forbidden to examine any of the uncovered items. In fact, a ‘representative’ from the Israeli Antiquities Authority is on hand to witness the destruction, but will not interfere.

In fact, the government of Israel is complicit in this destruction by allowing it to happen, even though it breaks existing laws. For whatever reason, the government of Israel has relinquished all rights to protect the holiest site in Judaism, and is quietly sitting by as the Islamic Waqf continues its destruction.

Although the reason given for the destruction is to ‘replace electrical cables’, in fact this is a continuation of the effort to erase the Jewish identity from this sacred spot. Some of the unearthed artifacts were smashed by the construction workers to complete their destruction. When an Israeli Druze policeman attempted to stop them, he was screamed at and told to leave. This arrogant, brazen destruction, including comments from Muslim officials that it is none of Israel’s “business” what they do on the Temple Mount, is coupled with the construction of an additional new mosque building on the mount, and a plan to transport water from a holy river in Mecca to pools underneath the mount to ‘solidify’ Muslim claims to the Mount and raise the importance of the site to Muslims, and conversely to reduce the Jewish importance and the entire reason for Jews to be in the land in the first place.

We cannot sit idly by while this destruction is taking place. This is just going too far. What can we do in America?

It pains me to say this, but as individuals, we must stop giving money to the State of Israel until they intervene and stop this destruction of the Temple Mount. Why should we support a government that allows this to happen? This effort must include canceling tourist travel to Israel as well. Do you want your children to see bulldozers destroying the holiest site in Judaism? Why rest your head against the Western retaining wall of the temple complex when earth movers are digging up your heritage above you? The time has come for action. We know how far ‘outcries’ go in making change when the outcry comes from Jews. Reducing the flow of money from America and hopefully the rest of the world is the only thing the current government may act on, and even that is not certain. They certainly will not act on petitions, letters, wailing and tearing of clothes.

So I am asking you to put away the checkbook. Cancel the plane tickets to Ben Gurion. And when asked why you are doing this, tell them it is because they are allowing the destruction of the holiest site in Judaism, without even a whimper.

Voice of the Lyre

Activism - Temple Mount Travesty