Al Aqsa Official: Jewish Temples Existed

That is the headline of an online article on the World Net Daily website, the result of an off-the-record interview that WND had with a former senior leader of the Waqf who claims he was dismissed after he made his views known.

"Prophet Solomon built his famous Temple at the same place that later the Al Aqsa Mosque was built..."I am mentioning historical facts," said the former leader. "I know that the traditional denial about the temple existing at the same place as Al Aqsa is more a political denial. Unfortunately our religious and political leaders chose the option of denial to fight the Jewish position and demands regarding Al Aqsa and taking back the Temple Mount compound. In my opinion we should admit the truth and abandon our traditional position."

However, the former leader does not forfeit Moslem rights to the area, since he sees Islam as the culmination of Judaism and Christianity.

In another article, WND quotes from an interview with Kamal Hatib, vice-chairman of the Islamic Movement, who makes the standard Moslem claim that there is no connection between the Temple and Jerusalem at all:

"When the First Temple was built by Solomon – God bless him – Al Aqsa was already built. We don't believe that a prophet like Solomon would have built the Temple at a place where a mosque existed," said Hatib.

"And all the historical and archaeological facts deny any relation between the temples and the location of Al Aqsa. We must know that Jerusalem was occupied and that people left many things, coins and other things everywhere. This does not mean in any way that there is a link between the people who left these things and the place where these things were left," Hatib said.

But according to the former Waqf leader, there is a true Islamic tradition that has been handed down that the Jewish temples once stood where the Al Asa Mosque stands today. According to one of those traditions:

"most of the first guards of Al Aqsa when it was built were Jews. The Muslims knew at that time that they could not find any more loyal and faithful than the Jews to guard the mosque and its compound. They knew that the Jews have a special relation with this place."

If this interview is accurate, it is interesting, but has no practical relevence to the political situation and the status of the Temple Mount. It is interesting though, that this former Waqf leader, who claims he was dismissed after making his views known, would refuse an on-the-record interview for fear of reprisal. Even with an off-the-record interview, wouldn't Waqf officials know who he is?

Technorati Tag: Israel and Waqf and Al-Aksa and Aqsa and Temple Mount.