Letter: Are Holy Places the Key to a Deal?

Dear editor:

In the 1940’s, Arab aggression failed to prevent the emergence of the modern State of Israel in the Jews’ ancestral homeland. But Egypt did succeed in grabbing Gaza and Transjordan also succeeded in grabbing eastern Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, dubbing these areas “The West Bank” and dropping the “Trans” prefix from its own name. Jordan then proceeded to ethnically cleanse these illegally occupied areas of their Jewish population while destroying synagogues and other Jewish holy places, as well as desecrating Jewish graves and using Jewish tombstones to pave latrines. Israel liberated Gaza and “The West Bank” in 1967, only after Jordan allied with Egypt and Syria in a war instigated with the open intention of destroying the Jewish state and annihilating its people. Shortly after the end of the Six Day War, Israel offered to withdraw from newly liberated areas in exchange for recognition and peace. The offer was flatly rejected by the Arab League with the words: “No Peace! No recognition! No negotiations!”      Three nos of Khartoum – Google Search

Given this background, it seems unbelievable that Israel placed the administration of the Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount (Judaism’s Holiest Site) in the hands of the Jordanian Waqf (Muslim Religious Authorities). This was done partly because, at the time, Israel’s Orthodox Rabbis felt that Jews should not ascend the Temple Mount as modern Jews could not perform the rituals that had permitted entrance to the Temple in biblical times. Nonetheless, Israel was entitled to expect some gratitude from the Waqf. Sadly, that did not emerge.

In fact, showing disrespect not only for Israel, but for their own religion, the Waqf administrators permitted Muslims to store rocks, weapons, and incendiary devices in the Al Aqsa Mosque, using them to attack Jews praying at the Western Wall (located at the base of the Temple Mount; the holiest place where, currently, Jews can pray). Who is Really Desecrating Holy Sites? :: Gatestone Institute

Indeed, when Israeli security forces have attempted to stop such attacks, the Waqf has accused the Israelis of disrupting peaceful prayer sessions in the mosque.  Israeli police in full riot gear storm Jerusalem holy site after rock-throwing – CBS News

Thus, the Waqf has chosen to continue the practice of Haj Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who collaborated with the Nazis and offered to bring the Holocaust to the Middle East. “Al-Aksa Is in Danger” Libel Advocate Grand Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini

Making any worthwhile deal requires a modicum of respect between the negotiators. (“The Art of a Peace Deal in the Middle East? Holy Places” Boulder Jewish News March 11, 2025″) There can be no deal between Israel and the Palestinians until the Waqf demands that Muslims truly respect the sanctity of their own places of worship and show respect for Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount. The Waqf should also be working with Israeli religious leaders to define the rules for Jewish worship on the Temple Mount. (Attitudes about ritual impurity have changed and Jews do visit the Temple Mount although no mechanism for organized Jewish prayer there has been arranged.)

Toby F. Block
Atlanta, GA