Exactly which Muslim holy sites are in danger under Jewish rule? Can Abu Mazen name one?President Mahmoud Abbas stressed Tuesday the need to protect Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites, speaking on the anniversary of an attempted arson of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Abbas said the fire, which was set by an Australian in 1969, was "the first (attack) in a series that aimed to demolish the Al-Aqsa Mosque to make way to build the (third) temple."
The president's office said in a statement that Israeli excavation work in Jerusalem and tunnels underneath the holy site would not undermine the fact that the city has an Arab identity.
Besides the single example discovered earlier this year - of an ancient Muslim school accidentally demolished in 1967 - Israel has treated Muslim and Christian holy sites with respect and even helped discover new ones.
The contrast with how disgustingly the Muslims have treated ancient Jewish holy sites - most egregiously, the Jewish artifacts on the Temple Mount itself, wantonly destroyed with heavy equipment, or the recent desecration of graves at the Mount of Olives, not to mention and destruction of dozens of Jerusalem synagogues under Jordanian rule - cannot be starker.
The simple fact is that Abbas is inciting his people against Israel, period. He knows quite well that the 1969 attack was not done by any Jews or by Israeli authorities, but by a deranged Christian from Australia. Israel is hardly responsible for the actions of a crazed Australian.
Abbas, on the other hand, is directly responsible for the terror that occurs because of the lies and incitement that he directly pushes as well as that which comes from his official PA newspapers, schools and announcements.
The man is not an honored peace partner. He is a thoroughly despicable human being.