Myths And Facts About The Mugrabi Gate Bridge

The following Myths & Facts by Dr. Mitchell Bard is reposted with permission
This post is also available online with links

MYTH:: "Israel's proposed rebuilding of the Mugrabi Gate leading to the Temple Mount is an act of religious war."

FACT:

On Monday, December 12, 2011, Israel temporarily closed the single pedestrian walkway open to non-Muslims that leads to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel's Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which closed the walkway to the Mugrabi Bridge, cited the public safety of visitors who use the walkway as the reason for closure. The ramp is a temporary structure that is unstable, a fire hazard and prone to storm damage. It was built after an earthquake damaged the original ramp in 2004.

Arlene Kushner On Netanyahu And The Mughrabi Bridge; Obama And Iran

From Arlene Kushner:

December 14, 2011

"What Are They Thinking?"

Or perhaps I should ask, ARE they thinking?

Let's start with our prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.  

As I write, the Mughrabi Bridge has been opened, on his orders.

One of the concerns, when the wooden  bridge was shut down, was that it was a fire hazard. So, guess what? There will be a fire engine stationed near the bridge at all time, in case it catches fire. 

Arlene Kushner On The Temple Mount and the Mughrabi Bridge

From Arlene Kushner:

December 13, 2011

"Looking Further"

Before I delve more deeply into subjects already discussed, I want to share the link to the latest video of Danny Ayalon, Deputy Foreign Minister.  You may have seen his earlier videos, which dealt with subjects such as the true nature of the "1967 border." 

They were great, and so is this one, which looks at the issue of refugees in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is both with regard to the "refugees" in perpetuity, sustained in their limbo status for political reasons by UNRWA, and the Jewish refugees from Arab countries, who are very rarely mentioned. 

See this, please, and share it:

Arlene Kushner On Newt Gingrich And The Invention Of The Palestinians

From Arlene Kushner

December 12, 2011

"Can It Be?"

I'm reading about the fact that Newt Gingrich is leading the polls among the Republican presidential candidate contender, and I'm hearing the things he's saying.  And I ask myself if I dare hope that a man with great intelligence, and enormous historical and political savvy, who is not afraid to tell it like it is, might be elected president. 

At this juncture my impulse is to tell everyone to pray.  The contrast between Gingrich and Obama takes the breath away.  Too soon to call it, but what it would mean for the US, for Israel and for the world!

~~~~~~~~~~

Gingrich created quite a flap when he said the Palestinians are an invented people -- that in the Ottoman empire there were no nation states (i.e., no "Palestinian state"), and that the "Palestinians" were simply part of the Arab people.  He is quite correct and it took a great deal of courage to say it, as politically incorrect as such an observation is.  Of course, it created apoplexy among PA leaders  And, according to one report I encountered, Gingrich's campaign office then came out with a statement saying he was providing necessary historical context but that he now supported negotiations with the Palestinians. 

Arlene Kushner On The Issue Of Rebuilding The Mughrabi Gate Bridge

From Arlene Kushner:

October 26, 2011

"National Integrity" 

When I speak of integrity, I am referring to soundness, state of being whole.

For Israel as a nation, this applies to a great many situations.  We have a regrettable and maddening tendency to turn ourselves into a veritable pretzel -- as we seek to disprove a charge against or to satisfy demands leveled at us -- rather than remaining true to what we know we are. 

My reason for raising this now is because the issue of the rebuilding of the Mughrabi Gate bridge has come to the fore once again.