An Israeli MK visits the Temple Mount, yet Muslims are happy

Usually, when Israeli members of Knesset visit the Temple Mount, it causes an international incident. No matter how respectful they are, no matter of their entire tour is silent, it causes screaming headlines in the Arab world and even in the mainstream media.

But yesterday am Israeli MK ignored calls from the government for calm, visited the Mount, made provocative statements, and yet caused no controversy in the Arab world.

Because this MK is Muslim.

Despite calls to calm tensions in Jerusalem and at the Temple Mount, Arab MK Ahmed Tibi (UAL-Ta'al) arrived at al-Aqsa mosque over the weekend delcaring: "We own this place."

He was received favorably by Muslim worshippers who told him he was "better than all the Arab leaders in the world."

Tibi was treated like a hero on his visit to the holy site. Worshippers told Tibi he was a great Arab leader "because of your strong positions." He has visited the site several times during the recent period of tension.

Tibi visited the European Parliament two weeks ago in order to express what he said were Israeli violations at al-Aqsa mosque.

He claimed that some Israeli politicians were "pyromaniacs that cannot be restrained" and said that "they inflame the situation in Jerusalem without thinking about the consequences."

Two weeks ago, Tibi said "Jews are not allowed to pray at Al-Aqsa because this is a place of worship for Muslims. While this is a 70-dunam site, every single meter is holy to Islam."

Then, as now, there were no infuriated Westerners aghast at this insult to Jews and Judaism, no one calling on him to act with restraint, no one saying that he was inciting violence.

The rules are different for Arabs and Jews. Not for Israelis and non-Israelis, not Zionists and anti-Zionists - but between Arabs and Jews.