Ramadan is Approaching Again

 Ramadan is approaching again as Israel is at war in Gaza and in Lebanon.

Israel is wisely seeking a ceasefire that will coincide with Ramadan, knowing the unfortunate history of attacks on Israel during the Muslim holy month.

The dangerous lies that resurface every year, claiming that Jews are planning to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with a Third Temple, are bound to resurface in incitement from Palestinian leaders and religious figures.

This antisemitic libel was originally manufactured and disseminated in 1921 by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, and has continued to be spread over the past century. It has been used as an excuse for violence too often

In August 1929, Palestinian Muslims, incited by rumors of an imminent Jewish plot to destroy al-Aqsa, rampaged throughout the land. In total, 133 Jews were killed over six days, including 67 members of the ancient Jewish community of Hebron.

In 1990, the “Al-Aqsa is in danger” libel inspired 3,000 Muslims to gather on the Temple Mount after a rumor was spread that a Jews were planning to march on the site. This devolved into the October riots, which led to the deaths of 17 Muslims and many wounded on both sides.

In 1996, following the opening of an exit for the Western Wall Tunnels in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. Arafat and the PA accused Israel of purposely endangering the Aqsa Mosque. This led to three days of rioting and 17 IDF soldiers and about 100 Palestinians were killed.

In September 2000 a visit to the Mount by Ariel Sharon, just a few months before he was elected to be prime minister, was used as an excuse to launch the Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Aware of this history, Israeli and Palestinian Authority security officials have been meeting to prepare and cooperate on how to prevent violence.

But there are figures on both sides who have other interests. And Iran, the patron of Hamas and Hezbollah, could try even harder to inflame a multi-front regional war. The police will once again do their best to avoid conflict and maintain calm.

But when false accusations are inevitably made against Israel during Ramadan this year, how will the international media handle it?

Will they repeat the mistakes that they made last year? Will they again promote the libel, fan flames, and increase tension that in the current climate could possibly spark WW III?

We await with bated breath.