Israeli Freedom of Religion Attacked in San Francisco Chronicle
12 April 2007
Omar Ahmad's attack on Israeli freedom of religion is riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies.
The already debunked accusation that Israel's archaeological dig in Jerusalem's Old City threatens the Temple Mount continues to be used as an excuse to charge Israel with attacking Muslim religious freedom. Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Omar Ahmad claims that "Israeli government excavations and construction projects continue to chip away at the mosque's foundation." (See our communique for details on why this is patently untrue.)
Ahmad claims that Israel is "violating American principles of equality for all religions. American leaders must insist that Israel's respect for Jewish religious sites extend equally to Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem."
Facts and talking points:
The US State Department itself recognizes that Israeli law provides for freedom of worship, and the Government respects this right.
Respect for all religious sites only existed following the 1967 reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli control. Prior to this, Jewish religious sites were desecrated by the Jordanians and access for Jews to their holy sites was prevented.
Although it is the holiest site in Judaism, Israel has left the Temple Mount under the control of Muslim religious authorities.The Islamic authority, the Waqf oversees all day-to-day activity there. An Israeli presence is in place at the entrance to the Temple Mount to ensure access for people of all religions.
The rights of the various Christian churches to custody of the Christian holy places in Jerusalem were defined in the course of the nineteenth century, when Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire. Known as the "status quo arrangement for the Christian holy places in Jerusalem," these rights remained in force during the period of the British Mandate and are still upheld today in Israel.
Ahmad also conveniently ignores the archaeological vandalism carried out by the Waqf on the Temple Mount that has caused irreparable damage to artifacts from the First and Second Jewish Temple periods.
Other issues raised by Ahmad include the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, which, he claims, "is constructed -- literally -- over the dead bodies of a Palestinian population that was expelled from its homeland." Ahmad, while attempting to portray Israel as a desecrator of Muslim sites, fails to add important context, including the fact that this issue is currently before the Israeli Supreme Court.
Omar Ahmad's attack on Israeli freedom of religion is riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies.
The already debunked accusation that Israel's archaeological dig in Jerusalem's Old City threatens the Temple Mount continues to be used as an excuse to charge Israel with attacking Muslim religious freedom. Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Omar Ahmad claims that "Israeli government excavations and construction projects continue to chip away at the mosque's foundation." (See our communique for details on why this is patently untrue.)
Ahmad claims that Israel is "violating American principles of equality for all religions. American leaders must insist that Israel's respect for Jewish religious sites extend equally to Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem."
Facts and talking points:
The US State Department itself recognizes that Israeli law provides for freedom of worship, and the Government respects this right.
Respect for all religious sites only existed following the 1967 reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli control. Prior to this, Jewish religious sites were desecrated by the Jordanians and access for Jews to their holy sites was prevented.
Although it is the holiest site in Judaism, Israel has left the Temple Mount under the control of Muslim religious authorities.The Islamic authority, the Waqf oversees all day-to-day activity there. An Israeli presence is in place at the entrance to the Temple Mount to ensure access for people of all religions.
The rights of the various Christian churches to custody of the Christian holy places in Jerusalem were defined in the course of the nineteenth century, when Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire. Known as the "status quo arrangement for the Christian holy places in Jerusalem," these rights remained in force during the period of the British Mandate and are still upheld today in Israel.
Ahmad also conveniently ignores the archaeological vandalism carried out by the Waqf on the Temple Mount that has caused irreparable damage to artifacts from the First and Second Jewish Temple periods.
Other issues raised by Ahmad include the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, which, he claims, "is constructed -- literally -- over the dead bodies of a Palestinian population that was expelled from its homeland." Ahmad, while attempting to portray Israel as a desecrator of Muslim sites, fails to add important context, including the fact that this issue is currently before the Israeli Supreme Court.
READ IT ALL - VERY INFORMATIVE:
**
San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
posted by jillosophy at 4/13/2007 10:41:00 AM
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