Palestinian TV: Wailing Wall named after Muhammad's horse

[Anthony Crifasi]

PA TV educational program: Jews have no historical connection to Western
Wall (The Wailing Wall) - It's an Islamic site named for Muhammad's horse

by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook, Oct. 19, 2006
http://www.pmw.org.il/

During the month of Ramadan, Palestinian Authority television programs focus
on religious themes. But even within these programs, PA TV inserts
political, hate and violence messages directed at Israel. PA TV is run by
the office of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

One significant message that has been strongly emphasized by repeated
broadcasting of the same programs is the denial of Israel's right to exist.
One program, which recently appeared on PA TV three times in the course of a
single week, features Dr. Hassan Khader, founder of the Al Quds
Encyclopedia, who argues that the Jews have no ancient historical connection
to the Western Wall of the Temple. He teaches:

  "The first connection of the Jews to this site began in the 16th
Century... The Jewish connection to this site is a recent connection, not
ancient. like the roots of the Islamic connection. Who would have believed
that the Israelis would arrive 1400 years [after the beginning of Islam],
conquer Jerusalem and would make this wall into their special place of
worship, where they worship and pray?"

The true name of the Western Wall of the Temple, according to the PA
academic, is really the Al Buraq Wall - named after Muhammad's horse which
was tied to the wall - according to an Islamic tradition that attempts to
honor Jerusalem.

Finally, Khader praises all the violence and death the Palestinians have
initiated to prevent Jews' access to the Western Wall and Temple Mount, from
the beginning of the 20th century until now, and indicates that it will
continue if Jews insist on the right to the Western Wall.

The following are excepts from his interview:

  Khader: "The issue of the Al-Buraq Wall [Western Wall - renamed by Muslims
"Buraq Wall" after Muhammad's horse] is one of the wonders which we don't
know why it happened in this order [of historical events]. Who would have
believed, back then, when Islam began in the time of the prophet, who would
have believed that the Israelis would arrive 1400 years later, conquer
Jerusalem and would make this wall into their special place of worship,
where they worship and pray? It's incredible! We did not invent this place,
the Al-Buraq Wall. Know that this wall is the only one of the four walls of
the Al-Aqsa Mosque - the Mosque has four sides - this wall is the only one
that carries an Islamic name since the beginning of Islam. Allah, praise
Him, gave Al-Aqsa its name, and the Al-Buraq Wall was named by the Prophet.
The Al-Buraq Wall is the station, similar to a space station, where Al-Buraq
[Muhammad's horse] landed. This is the place where Al-Buraq landed and the
prophet tied Al-Buraq [to the wall].

[PMW note: The Quran (Sura 17) writes that Muhammad took a Night Journey
from the Mosque in Mecca to "The Farthest Mosque" (Al-Aqsa in Arabic)
initially understood to indicate heaven. After the Islamic conquest of
Jerusalem, Muslims, trying to honor Jerusalem, gave a new interpretation to
this words "Al-Aqsa" - meaning it was a Mosque in Jerusalem. -- From Studies
in the History of the Arabs and Islam, Prof. Hava Lazarus-Yafeh]

  "... This is the place from which the prophet entered and exited Al-Aqsa.
I always say that from an Islamic perspective, this is the holy gate of
Al-Aqsa. This is the only wall that carries an Islamic name since the dawn
of Islam...

  "This is the single wall from among the Al-Aqsa walls for which a
revolution took place in the past century. Everyone knows the Al-Buraq
revolution that took place on August 23, 1929. [Editor - Arabs rioted and
killed many Jews] This revolution, that took place for this holy site for
the Muslims, and we know, all of you know, oh brothers, that the Al-Buraq
revolution was a 'wave' revolution, all Palestinian people took part in
it..."

  "The first connection of the Jews to this site began in the 16th Century
[and cites a "Hebrew Encyclopedia" as a source]. The Hebrew Encyclopedia
says that the Jewish connection is a coincidental connection that began in
the Ottoman era. If so, the Jewish connection to this site is a recent
connection, not ancient, its roots are not like the roots of the Islamic
connection...

  "The Jewish connection to this site is a fabricated connection, a
coincidental connection... "

  "[Some may argue:] The Al-Buraq Wall is simply a small wall, a few meters
long, a number of bricks, what is it worth? What we are interested in is the
Al-Aqsa Mosque, and we can give it [the Wall] to the Jews, they have no
[other] religious sites. This is a highly significant matter! This site
currently represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is the
most essential point in the Arab-Israeli conflict. No one can ignore it
anymore. As we said, revolutions took place for the sake of [Al-Buraq], and
for its sake revolutions are still taking place today. The first revolution
in the past century was named after Al-Buraq and Al-Aqsa, and the last
revolution, the last Intifada, the Al-Aqsa Intifada, we are still living it
until today."
  [PA TV, October 13, 2006]