Jerusalem Riots - What Again?

Ron Ross
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com
16th February 2007

How well do people know and understand the riots and violence provoked by construction near the Mugrabi Gate, in Jerusalem's Old City?.

Few know construction cannot take place in Israel unless the ground is first of all checked and inspected by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (The treasure of centuries is hidden in the soil of this ancient land).

As the IAA went about their usual search Arab incitement unleashed wild claims of sacred site desecration taking place. Arab youth were encouraged to riot, throw stones, attack Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall.

Younger Arabs seems to be available on cue to launch into vigorous confrontation with police in Jerusalem or even against fellow Arabs in Gaza.

Honest Reporting (www.honestreporting.com) questioned the integrity of the world media as they `covered the story.' What they `covered it with' seemed to be in question.

HR pointed out the Temple Mount, the sacred centre of the madness, is Judaism's holiest site. It ranks third in holy places for Moslems after Mecca and Medina. In fact they stress, Jewish claim to the location predates Muslims by 1500 years, a point often ignored or unknown by many journalists.

Moslems like to say the Jewish Temple never existed on the site. If true, that statement wipes out all Jewish and Christian history.

Two BFP reporters were at the site when fighting broke out between Moslem radicals and police. One of our team was able to film the action but fled when the shrapnel came too close for comfort.

We visit the area regularly. There is a temporary ramp which needs replacing of access to the holy site is to be maintained. Before starting on the new project IAA is required by law to survey the site so that valuable items will not be destroyed.

This work is happening nowhere near the Aksa mosque. Israel has no ambition to undermine the Temple Mount for it remains their holiest place and no doubt contains historic items of great significance to the Jews and to Christians as well.

To make matters worse the IAA cleared their work with the Islamic Wakf as well as the Jordan government and other relevant authorities before their work began. Their activity is taking place 70 meters away from the Temple Mount and all these `authorities' know it.

No journalist or photographer has been denied access to the site. Try that kind of co-operation in the Islamic world. See how that kind of openness goes down in Tehran or Damascus?

What is really taking place in the Old City?

Nothing new, that's for sure. Remember there is a summit coming up on Monday 19th February, 2007. Three giants of hopeful diplomacy will meet together….. Dr Condie Rice, the US Secretary of States, Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel.

Already there are calls for Olmert to quit the summit based on the Mecca agreement between Fatah and Hamas. These two bloodthirsty brothers decided to unite their efforts to remove Israel. No effort was made to at least encourage Hamas to embrace the right of existence to the Israelis. Let's face it. The agreement is not worth the blood it was written in (and there has been far too much of it)

So why not stir a riot in Jerusalem. The police say none of the Moslem fighting was spontaneous, it was all planned. Hamas the likely orchestrator the police opined.

But why?

What happens to negotiations if Israel retaliates with all guns blazing?

What if the Jerusalem police annihilate a bunch of Moslem fanatics in the Old City?

What a picture could be drawn by the media Honest Reporting called `intellectually lazy.'

I hope and pray Olmert pulls the pin on the summit. I hope he says to Dr Rice there can be no conversation with Abbas or anyone Palestinian until Hamas plays to the rules already prescribed by the Quartet.

There is an old saying which says some people can get away with murder. That's been happening for too long in this part of the world and we pay politicians and diplomats too much money and respect to let them keep practicing their `profession.'

We need results and Israel needs some friends who mean what they say.

Ron Ross resigned as Senior Pastor of Noosa Baptist Church to become National Director of Bridges for Peace Australia. Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com