37 Years on: Al-Aqsa Mosque Threatened

August 21 is the anniversary of the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Australian in 1969. Although this event remains the most high-profile attack on Al-Aqsa, it is by far not the most serious threat against the Holy Mosque. Since then, Al-Aqsa has been the subject of more grave threats and attacks that have been less publicized.

Excavations under Al-Aqsa threaten to cause its collapse. Efforts to construct the alleged "temple" within the walls of the mosque remain an active threat, with various Jewish groups actively pursuing the achievement of this goal. The prevention of necessary renovations in the existing structures is another threat to the mosque's various structures.

As is clear, all these problems and threats are traced back to the fact that Al-Aqsa is languishing under a brutal Zionist occupation working slowly towards the eradication of the Islamic nature of Al-Quds by ethnic-cleansing and freezing all forms of construction in the occupied city. Since the occupation of Al-Quds in 1967, the city has been subject to a systematic policy of restrictions on Muslims and Christians, while facilitating the Judaization of the city. As a result, the Muslim and Christian population has decreased, while the Jewish population has increased significantly.

Al-Quds has been the flaring point in the conflict against Zionism. The two most recent events being the "Tunnel Uprising" of 1996, when Palestinian protested excavations under the mosque, and the ongoing Al-Aqsa Intifada. The Intifada was sparked by the provocative visit of Ariel Sharon to Al-Aqsa in September 2000.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the core of the battle of Zionist colonialism against Palestinians. The ultimate goal being the replacing Al-Aqsa Mosque with a Jewish temple. Thus far and despite the mounting threats, the efforts have failed to achieve this goal. And towards preventing the realization of this goal, Palestinians are willing to sacrifice all.