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Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-708011
How Can the Mere Presence of a Jew "Defile" the Al Aqsa Mosque?
(Jerusalem Post) Yifa Segal - There are large and powerful masses of people who passionately hate Jews and Israelis just because of our existence. The greater problem is those in the West who accept without question the claim that the mere presence of a Jew on the Temple Mount is a defilement. Acceptance of this claim is fueling anti-Semitism around the globe. When Jews visit the site, they are said to provoke Muslim worshipers to commit violent acts. The violence, it is said, is completely understandable; the Jews brought it upon themselves. The Jews are told it's their fault, their responsibility, and that they deserve it. Simply because we are Jewish, our presence can be problematic. We can be Jewish if we insist, but we had better be quiet about it. I am free to visit churches, pagodas, ancient temples, and even the Vatican in my global travels. However, my presence in Jerusalem, the capital of my country, is considered a problem that justifies violence. If human beings are allowed to access a certain site, it should be totally unacceptable to restrict access to some based on their religion. Imagine security guards standing at the entrance to the Western Wall, inquiring about a person's faith and denying entry to any non-Jew. It would be considered outrageous! The writer, an International Director at UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), served as chief of staff of Israel's Ambassador to the U.S.