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Politics in Depth Team
Answer
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Name
Shahnawaz
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Profession
Govt. employee
Question
What steps in your opinion [should] Muslim communities take to liberate Al-Aqsa from the [Israeli] occupation?
Answer
Thank you for your email that revealing so much your loyalty to our cause, Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa.
In order to liberate Al-Aqsa, we must do the following:
1- Reviving the idea of loyalty. I mean loyalty for the idea and knowing how important and significant the cause is to Muslims. It is about one of the most sacred places in Islam. It is about the land of the Prophet's night journey, the land of Al-Mahdi, and the land where Prophet Jesus will descend. It is also about the holiness of the place in all time.
2- With such culture of loyalty, we need another of knowledge and knowing what is going on and the importance of the city to all Muslims. It is so crucial to our consciousness and identity to know everything about Al-Quds. Muslims used to pray to Allah and used to make each other remember about Al-Quds during the Crusaders.
3- Muslims need people who can incite loyalty and solidarity to Al-Quds into their hearts and make them always remember Al-Aqsa.
4- Liberating Al-Aqsa needs a comprehensive cultural, political, and religious revival. All political parties shall agree on listing Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa as their first priority, even opposition. Professional syndicates, nongovernmental organizations, civil society, women organizations, and personal initiatives shall permanently remind Muslims about Al-Quds.
5- The Muslim media should focus on the events in Al-Aqsa and shall screen the prayers over there.
6- Muslims shall put plans to retake Al-Quds in which everyone is involved, youth, women, scientists, civil society, businesspersons, and literally every one. Jews themselves had established plans to colonize Palestine before 1948.
7- Muslim Businessmen shall allocate some of their money to projects dedicated to liberate Al-Quds.
8- Muslims in South Africa fast a day every week for Al-Quds and they will continue to do so until Al-Quds is liberated. So, Muslims shall live in solidarity with their fellow Muslims in Palestine.
9- Leaders and Ulma have a certain role in cooperating to liberate Al-Quds.
Name
Abdo
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Profession
Question
What do you think Arab governments should do?
Answer
What is needed from the Arab government is the liberation of Al-Quds by using international law, principles of justice, and human and humanitarian rights.
I think Muslim countries shall withdraw ambassadors from Israel. It is so ironic that our enemy is killing Palestinians and occupying Palestine while we have relation with Israel.
Arab and Muslim governments shall take concrete stances, like commercial boycotting.
It is useless to call the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting for Al-Quds, because the United Nations will not probably move in to ask Israel to stop.
Name
Amro
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Profession
Question
What is the situation right now?
Answer
In September and October every year, many Jewish religious festivals increasingly gain a religious dimension in Al-Quds. Jews always try to make their presence in Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa a religious one based on their false historical assumptions about their so-called "Temple Mount".
Israel incites religious sentiments to make the issue about Al-Aqsa about religion, not about the right of the land.
All Jews agree on that. Even women, who are not allowed to enter the so-called Temple Mount under the Jewish jurisdiction, enter Al-Aqsa to perform Jewish rituals. Israel is pushing extremists Jews to enter Al-Aqsa to end the Muslim claim to it.
Actually, Israel will continue to do such action every year and every time, because there is no reaction from the Muslim world. So, it is no problem for them to continue desecrating Al-Aqsa.
After Al-Quds, Aqsa is now under the threat of Judaization. This Judaization is not about building new colonies, but about destroying Al-Aqsa in order to build their temple on its ruins.
People of Al-Quds cannot alone continue resisting the Israeli policies. They need actual support from their neighbors in Palestine and all over the Muslim world.
Israeli policemen are now desecrating Al-Aqsa and walking around. Muslims in Al-Aqsa now need instant support.
Name
Muslim
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Profession
Question
What is the situation of Al-Aqsa now with excavations beneath it?
Answer
Al-Aqsa's situation right now is very catastrophic. Excavations seem to significantly hurt the foundations of Al-Aqsa.
During the time of Crusaders, the occupiers did not dare to destroy Al-Aqsa. Crusaders did desecrate Al-Aqsa and made it a church, yet they did not attempt to destroy it because they feared the reaction of the Muslim world.
Now, under the Israeli occupation, Israelis are brazenly making plans to destroy Al-Aqsa by building an enormous network of tunnels that passes beneath Al-Aqsa.
From Selwan Gate, anyone can enter Al-Aqsa and see tunnels built under it. The situation is catastrophic as Al-Aqsa could be easily destroyed by any kind of pressure.
IN Al-Aqsa, we are hearing sounds of walls and lands cracking. Tunnels are besieging Al-Aqsa everywhere. Tunnels have reached Fountain of Qaytbay or Sabil Qaitbay into the Dome of the Rock.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
The session has ended. We would like to thank Dr. Raied Fathi for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
We apologize for not being able to answer all the questions due to time limitation.
