Response of the Mufti of Jerusalem...

Shaykh Ikrimah Sabri, "mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian lands,"responded today to reports of placing a synagogue on an unused portion of Temple Mount. He responded and said: "With regard to the proposal to build a Jewish synagogue in the courtyards of the al-Aqsa Mosque, we would like to say that the al-Aqsa Mosque belongs solely to Muslims."

"We hold the Israeli occupation authorities responsible for any action that could undermine the status of the blessed al_Aqsa Mosque. Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere, who number 1.3 billion, will not keep silent over any action that could undermine the status of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque.

"Now, the Israeli Government is not strong enough to make any decision. It is now under the influence of the Israeli right wing, which means that the situation cannot stabilize or calm down unless Jewish hard liners and politicians keep their hands off the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque.

"The guards of the al-Aqsa Mosque and worshipers are constantly ready to confront aggressive and provocative attempts. We do not count on protests that may be lodged by an Arab state or on any condemnation by Arabs. We are in the field. We cannot permit them to enter the courtyards of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque regardless of the sacrifices entailed.

"We cannot stoop to the level reached by Ovadya. We are sorry for the phrases he used to characterize the Palestinian people. We are too respectable to stoop to his level. Though we are also Semites, the Jews accuse whoever opposes them of being anti-Semites and racists. But, they have never done any soul searching regarding their hateful and racist stands, which smack of arrogance."