While the recent infighting between Hamas and Fatah has shown the mutual hate and enmity between the two main Palestinian factions, it pales into insignificance when both sides raise to an occasion - real or fabricated - to display their Joo-hate.
The waves of hysteria about the newly generated myth about "Israeli Designs on Al-Aqsa" are getting higher and higher by the day. Just to watch the language used by various Muslim sources is highly educational, seeing a new low in the anti-Israeli propaganda. So:
Israeli designs on Al-Aqsa (Al Jazeera)
Attempts to “obliterate” the Islamic stamp of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al Jazeera)
Ethnic cleansing operation (Al Jazeera)
Israel's intentions to destroy holy Islamic sites (Abu Mazen via Haaretz)
What Israel is doing in its practices and attacks against our sacred Muslim sites in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is a blatant violation (King Abdullah II via Haaretz)
MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List) warned on Tuesday that the excavations are likely to ignite a third intifada, which will include protests and conflict throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
"I have a stern warning for the enemy," Khaled Meshal said at a news conference in the Syrian capital. Head of the northern branch of the Islamic movement Sheik Ra'ad Salah, and the head of Jerusalem's Supreme Muslim Council Ikrima Sabri called this week for all Muslims in Israel to flock to the Temple Mount complex to prevent Israel from actions that they say are meant to destroy the Mugrabi Gate. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said that Israeli excavation works near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were likely to endanger regional peace efforts, Israel Radio reported.
The dig is part of a plan to rebuild the Mugrabi bridge walkway planned to run from the Dung gate to the Mugrabi gate, which serves as the primary entrance to the compound referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as al-Haram al-Sherif, the Noble Sanctuary.
Husseini said he suspected that the excavations around the holy site were attempts to tunnel under it - a common allegation among Muslims, though one never substantiated - and demanded that Israel cease all digs immediately.
***
And, of course, the created myth is immediately foolowed by dire threats. The threats come even from the Israeli Muslims:It is clear then what should be expected and, indeed, came from the others:But what is really going on?The following diagram (from BBC , to avoid accusations of bias) shows the location of the bridge:It is easy to see that the location of the bridge is a) outside the Temple Mount and b) quite far away from the Al-Aqsa mosque. To get a better visual impression, here is a snapshot of the area (the Mugrabi bridge is marked by the red line): Currently the bridge is a wooden temporary construction, a clear safety hazard that must be addressed - for the sake of some of the same rubble rousers that create the hysteria today. It's enough to remind that the old bridge collapsed in 2004: However, the tactics of the Joo-haters are clear: to use the opportunity for heating up the scene and unite the divided Palestinian fractions now is much more important than the destiny of some bridge. And if it collapses again, so what, it is an additional bonus that will allow to blame Zionists anew.To add fuel to conflagration, some parties would use anything:Of course, coming from the camp that produced uncounted myths like use of uranium shells in Gaza, poisonous gases, dissemination of bird flu, poisoning of wells - this one is not surprising.The goal of the current Palestinian PR exercise is clear: while overcoming the internal squabbles is difficult to impossible, it would serve all parties to turn the attention to the Zionists' "atrocity". While keeping the knives ready for the next opportune moment.See more from Judeopundit
Labels: Hatefest, Politics, Religion
Al-Aqsa mosque is regarded as the third holiest Islamic site.
Violent clashes have broken out between Palestinians and Israeli police near the al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount in Jerusalem, from controversy over Israeli construction near the site, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews.

The construction work reportedly is to repair a pedestrian bridge that leads to the Mugrabi Gate, the entrance to the mosque used by Palestinians, and runs over the Jewish Western Wall area of the complex.   The earthen ramp bridge leads to a hilltop compound known as the Temple Mount to Jews and as the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.  The bridge collapsed in 2004 and was temporarily replaced with a wooden bridge which Israelis say is weakening and unsafe.  Israel has controlled the contentious compound since the 1967 Mideast War,

The construction involves excavation work and digging at the site, which Palestinian leaders contend is part of an attempt to dig under the mosque to find evidence of the Jewish Second Temple and/or to deliberately weaken the foundation of the mosque. Muslims dispute that the Temple was located at the site. Some artifacts have been salvaged from the digging work.

Temple Mount and the Western wall.
Israeli forces locked down Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem in anticipation of backlashes from the construction. The Old Jerusalem city limits were blockaded, allowing only Palestinians over 45 years old from entering and only on foot. Palestinians from the West Bank were completely barred. Opponents have declared the blockades and the construction work a deliberate act to prevent Muslims from accessing the holy site. The mass of protesters at the site have in turn blocked Jewish access to the Western Wall.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared the construction and blockade as "hostile measures" against Muslims. Palestinian chief justice Tayssir al-Tamimi declared a "day of anger" and called on Palestinians to defend the mosque. 

Arab and Muslim countries including Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia criticized Israel for the controversial work and urged it to halt construction. Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz also warned against starting construction. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League urged Muslim countries to freeze diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of the work.

Around 150 Muslims were inside the mosque for morning prayers when the construction and blockade began. An Israeli Muslim journalist reported that the worshippers were unable to leave and received loud messages from Israeli loudspeakers.

The al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, having once been the central point of prayer (qibla) for Muslims and allegedly the place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. Conventional Judaism believes it is also the historic site of the First and Second Temples, the holiest temple in Judaism, which is prophesised to be rebuilt ahead of the coming of the Messiah.

No deaths have been reported in the clashes, which simmered by evening.

Demonstrations also took place at mosques throughout the Muslim world, including Egypt and Jordan. Protests were expected later in the day in Nazareth.

The incident comes only a few days after rival Palestinian political factions, Hamas and Fatah, came to an agreement for a unity government aimed at restoring international support of Palestine and a return to Israeli negotiations.