Muslims Own the Temple Mount?

MK Ahmed Tibi (Ta’al) recently drew the ire of several of his fellow MKs and Ministers by claiming that Muslims are the true owners of the Temple Mount. In response, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud Beiteynu) called Tibi a “liar”, as well a few other choice epithets.

Why all the anger at Tibi? Seriously, why? Ahmed Tibi is simply drawing the only logical conclusion one can make when examining reality on the Temple Mount. Have a look at the facts and decide who’s making more sense, Tibi or Yisrael Katz?

Fact – Muslims can worship, hold funerals, fly flags, hang banners, hold political rallies and protests, hold communal meals, run schools, play soccer, etc. all day, every day on the Temple mount.

Fact – Non-Muslims are allowed to do none of the above and are only allowed to set foot on certain parts of the mount for a few minutes per day (no visits on Fridays), security situation permitting.

Given the above, how could Tibi not draw the conclusion that the Temple Mount belongs to Muslims? How can Yisrael Katz claim otherwise? Tibi happens to be right. Yisrael Katz and his ilk are simply miffed because Tibi keeps saying it out loud and drawing attention to the embarrassing truth.

Maintaining the status quo means nothing more than continued Israeli enforcement, protection and entrenchment of Muslim sovereignty over the Temple Mount.