Thursday, March 06, 2014

The UN Doesn't Recognize the Temple Mount


PA’s observer in the UN calls on the UN Security Council to prevent Israel’s “illegal activities” at the Temple Mount.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) complained to the United Nations on Wednesday over Israel’s actions at the Temple Mount.

Seems there's a statement posted on the website of the PA’s mission to the United Nations.

I went there, and found this from February 25, relating to:-

escalating acts of Israeli aggression, provocation and incitement in Occupied East Jerusalem and particularly at Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which houses the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque...
...Israeli extremists, including right-wing government officials, continue to incite and to attempt to breach the sanctity of Al-Haram Al-Sharif...[including] threats by Jewish extremists to breach the compound and raise Israeli flags there and in the context of a provocative debate launched in the Israeli Knesset aimed at passing legislation to impose Israeli sovereignty over Al-Haram Al-Sharif...the Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Moshe Feiglin...recently entered Al-Haram Al-Sharif under Israeli military escort and made provocative declarations regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque, a serious matter that we drew attention to in our letter of 20 February.
The official UN document.

Back in October, Mahmoud Abbas was contemplating doing this, saying:


“Israel has no right to split up the Al-Aqsa Mosque, neither physically nor in terms of prayer times,” Abbas said, and stressed that “all East Jerusalem is Palestinian.”

And in October three years ago, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

...voiced concern at recent episodes of tension at the Haram Ash-Sharif/Temple Mount compound in East Jerusalem, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, and the potential for further clashes, also citing the “sensitive excavations” by Israel in reconstructing a ramp to the site.

“We all share a responsibility to promote calm,” he declared...At a news conference in New York, Mr. Ban reiterated his warning that disturbances at the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound and other events in Jerusalem can undermine trust throughout the region. “I call upon all to avoid provocative acts,” he said.

But more importantly, the UN met yesterday already on the issue.

Here is the General Assembly GA/PAL/1287

STATEMENT BY BUREAU OF COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, ON THE SITUATION IN JERUSALEM

The Bureau...is alarmed by recent developments and increased tensions in Occupied East Jerusalem.
We are particularly concerned by the increasing incursions by Israeli extremists and political leaders, including Government officials, on the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound.  These incidents provoke Palestinian and other Muslim worshippers and often lead to clashes, in which Palestinian civilians are injured, tear-gassed and detained.  In another worrying development, the Knesset recently began a debate on a bill to impose “Israeli sovereignty” over Al-Haram Al-Sharif.  Such actions with regard to this highly sensitive area provoke the Palestinians and may also be perceived as serious acts of incitement in the wider region.  Moreover, these actions undermine the current negotiations process, threatening the prospects for peace...

...The Bureau of the Committee wishes to reaffirm that East Jerusalem remains an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is subject to the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, as affirmed by numerous Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.  Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states: “The occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”

The question of East Jerusalem is a crucial permanent status issue.  A sovereign, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital and with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all, is a core requirement for the achievement of a just and lasting peace.

The Bureau of the Committee calls on the Security Council to act without delay to address these alarming developments...The Committee will revisit this important issue at its upcoming Joint Meeting with the League of Arab States on 10 March 2014.

Shmoom me an Oom/Moon*.  They don't even use the term "Temple Mount".

Worthless ditherings.


*

David Ben-Gurion was reported to have said in Hebrew, "Oom Shmoom", the United Nations is nothing.

^

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