Palestinian leaders have called a mass rally on Sunday to defend the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, following a decision by ultra-nationalist Jews to lay the cornerstone for Judaism's third temple in history.
Leaflets signed by "the leadership of the Intifada" were handed out in east Jerusalem Thursday calling on Palestinians to forcibly cross Israeli military roadblocks and gather in large numbers at the mosque compound, said reports.
The Palestinian cabinet met late Friday to discuss the development and vowed to work to abort the plan, expected to trigger more violence in the Palestinian lands.
Top negotiator Saeb Erekat was quoted by Abu Dhabi satellite channel as saying the PA had already contacted the US and the EU in an appeal to prevent clashes similar to those at the outbreak of the Intifada, when Palestinians protested a provocative visit by Ariel Sharon, then a key MP and now the Israeli premier, to the holy mosque.
The "leadership of the Intifada" comprises 13 Palestinian organizations, including the movement of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat -- Fateh -- along with Hamas, the Islamic resistance movement.
Israel's Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to a request by the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement, which wants to build “a third temple on the site of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD” -- the Jews' holiest site.
However, the court forbade the laying of any stone at the compound itself, and banned any demonstration there, according to AFP.
The Temple Mount movement can lay the first stone of the third temple near the gate known as "Detritus" to the south of Jerusalem's Old City, near the Magharba Gate, the court ruled.
The ceremony is due to be held Sunday on the occasion of the Hebrew commemoration of Tisha Be Av, during which Jews mourn the destruction of the temple.
The mosque compound of the dome of the rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque comprise the third most holy site for Islam after Mecca and Medina, and occupies the same area devout Jews claim held the temple.
The remnants of the temple are claimed to be the western wall, known to the Jews as the Wailing Wall, and to Muslims as Buraq Wall, after the creature sent by God to carry the Prophet Mohammad during his ascent to heaven.
Israel seized east Jerusalem in 1967 and then annexed it. According to international resolutions, east Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian land that should be returned to the Palestinians.
Palestinian Minster of Communication Emad Fallouji told Abu Dhabi TV that the court had no legal jurisdiction over occupied land and was not entitled to give the green light for the Temple Mount Faithful to lay the cornerstone for a temple – Albawaba.com
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