The Third Temple and the Third World War

Image via Wikipedia

clipped from www.israeltoday.co.il Israeli Muslims seem to take the possible building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem much more seriously than the nation's Jews. This became a hot-button issue with the reconstruction of the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, which Israeli Arabs and Palestinians saw as a sign that the Jews are planning to rebuild the Temple. Muslim politicians and clerics issued dire warnings: "Save Jerusalem from the Jewish threat!" "Save the the Mosque of Al Aksa from destruction!" "Construction of the Third Temple is a Jewish conspiracy to control the world!" From their point of view, the Third Temple is a recipe for the Third World War. The Temple Mount is the focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the site of the two biblical Temples it is the holiest place in Judaism, and Muslims claim it as the third holiest place in Islam. It represents the clash between two revelations, the Bible and the Koran, and between Jewish and Muslim nationalism.

Related articles by Zemanta

• East Jerusalem lies at core of conflict (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Rebuilt Synagogue Is Caught in Disputes Over Jerusalem (nytimes.com)
• Jerusalem reopens popular Old City gate (sfgate.com)
• Jerusalem's controversial archaeology (theworld.org)
• Israel police storm holy site to quell protesters (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Officials: US wants Israel to cancel building plan (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Israel Police Storm Holy Site to Quell Protest (abcnews.go.com)
• Palestinians riot to protest synagogue reopening (cnn.com)

Synagogue opens in Jerusalem

clipped from english.aljazeera.net Israel has stepped up security in occupied Jerusalem amid the reopening of what many Jews consider as one of the most important places of worship. The rebuilt Hurva synagogue opened its doors in Jerusalem's Old City for the first time in more than 60 years on Monday. The synagogue, first built in 1694, was first destroyed in 1721 and then demolished during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The walled Old City is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which makes the reopening of the synagogue controversial. Al-Aqsa, Islam's third holiest site, and the Hurva are about just 700 metres apart. "We permit believers of other faiths to conserve their places of  worship. We proudly protect our heritage, while at the same time  allowing others freedom of religion," he said. "Israel is playing with fire and touching off the first spark to make the region explode," he said. "Certainly the situation is tense here," she said.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Jerusalem erupts in riots (trueslant.com)
• Clashes erupt over Jewish building (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Rebuilt Synagogue Is Caught in Disputes Over Jerusalem (nytimes.com)
• Palestinians riot to protest synagogue reopening (cnn.com)
• Israel targeted by Gaza rockets as Ashton visits (telegraph.co.uk)
• Violence erupts in East Jerusalem (guardian.co.uk)
• U.S. ups pressure on Israel (msnbc.msn.com)
• Clinton affirms US Israel support (news.bbc.co.uk)

East Jerusalem lies at core of conflict

Image by Anita363 via Flickr

clipped from news.yahoo.com Israel's plan to build 1,600 new apartments in contested east Jerusalem has thrown a spotlight on the city at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. _What's the bottom line? Israel wants to retain control of an undivided Jerusalem. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as capital of a future state. _Why is it so important? Important Jewish and Muslim holy sites are located in east Jerusalem's Old City. Christian shrines also stand there. The hilltop compound known to Muslims as Haram as-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest shrine. Jews call the site Temple Mount because the biblical Jewish temples stood there, making it Judaism's holiest site. Directly below is the Western Wall, the only remnant of that temple complex. _Why is the new construction so controversial? Palestinians say any settlement construction in east Jerusalem and the adjacent West Bank cements Israel's presence on lands they want for a future state.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Israel police storm holy site to quell protesters (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Violence Erupts At Jerusalem's Holiest Site (news.sky.com)
• Israeli police storm Jerusalem holy site (ctv.ca)
• Israel police storm holy site to quell protest (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Temple Mount Protests: Israel Police Storm Holy Site To Stop Protesters (huffingtonpost.com)
• Police 'in Jerusalem holy site' (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Israel Police Storm Holy Site to Quell Protest (abcnews.go.com)
• Israel police storm holy site to quell rioters (msnbc.msn.com)