Palestinian Minister Warns Of 'Religious War' Over Aqsa Division

A Palestinian cabinet minister has warned of a looming "religious war" if the Knesset (Israel's parliament) goes ahead with plans to discuss draft legislation aimed at partitioning East Jerusalem's iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims and Jews.



"Debate in the Knesset over plans to divide the [Al-Aqsa Mosque] will lead to a religious war that will hurt all parties involved," Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Adnan al-Husseini warned Monday.



The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowments and Heritage, a Palestinian NGO, had earlier said that the Knesset was planning to discuss a draft law next month aimed at partitioning the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims and Jews.



Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was obliged to uphold the current status quo at the "Temple Mount," using the Jewish name for the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.



In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers – usually accompanied by Israeli security forces – have repeatedly forced their way into the holy site.



For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.



In September 2000, a visit to the site by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon sparked what later became known as the "Second Intifada," a popular uprising against the Israeli occupation in which thousands of Palestinians were killed.



The roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict date back to 1917, when the British government, in the now-famous "Balfour Declaration," called for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."



Israel occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state – a move never recognized by the international community.



Palestinians, for their part, continue to demand the establishment of an independent state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with East Jerusalem – currently occupied by Israel – as its capital.



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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