While Israel controls "access" to the Temple Mount compound, inside its nine gates, the Islamic Religious Endowments, some times called the Islamic Trust or the waqf, has control.
For Muslims, the entire Temple Mount compound is considered to be a mosque.
The waqf administers daily life on the Temple Mount, including al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, archaeological sites and museums, but also Palestinian schools, Islamic libraries, mosques, and sharia courts throughout the city of Jerusalem.
In 1948, when Jordan took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, responsibility for the Temple Mount was transferred to the waqf.
When Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel's defense minister, Moshe Dayan, decided that the waqf would continue to control the site in order to avoid escalation of problems with the Muslim world. It was agreed that Jews would be allowed to visit, but not to pray. From that point on, Israel was responsible for security around the perimeter of the site, while the waqf was in control of what happens within the compound and various other facilities outside of it.
Starting in 1948, Jordan had control over the waqf, but when Jordan separated from the West Bank in 1988, Jordan allowed Palestinian leadership to take over.
Since that time, over the years, the waqf has been systematically and purposefully destroying historical artifacts to build up Islamic claims to Jerusalem.
An example is Solomon's Stables. In early 1996, the waqf converted Solomon's Stables at the Temple Mount into a "prayer hall." Then months later, renamed Solomon's Stables al-Marwani Mosque.
For Muslims, the entire Temple Mount compound is considered to be a mosque.
The waqf administers daily life on the Temple Mount, including al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, archaeological sites and museums, but also Palestinian schools, Islamic libraries, mosques, and sharia courts throughout the city of Jerusalem.
In 1948, when Jordan took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, responsibility for the Temple Mount was transferred to the waqf.
When Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel's defense minister, Moshe Dayan, decided that the waqf would continue to control the site in order to avoid escalation of problems with the Muslim world. It was agreed that Jews would be allowed to visit, but not to pray. From that point on, Israel was responsible for security around the perimeter of the site, while the waqf was in control of what happens within the compound and various other facilities outside of it.
Starting in 1948, Jordan had control over the waqf, but when Jordan separated from the West Bank in 1988, Jordan allowed Palestinian leadership to take over.
Since that time, over the years, the waqf has been systematically and purposefully destroying historical artifacts to build up Islamic claims to Jerusalem.
An example is Solomon's Stables. In early 1996, the waqf converted Solomon's Stables at the Temple Mount into a "prayer hall." Then months later, renamed Solomon's Stables al-Marwani Mosque.
King Solomon built the First Temple on the Mount in Jerusalem around 1000 B.C. It was torn down around 400 years later by the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar. In the first century B.C., Herod began reconstruction of the Temple. Herod reshaped the Temple Mount by filling up the slopes surrounding the mount. Two halls were built which had ceilings supported by eighty-eight pillars in twelve parallel rows. At the bases of the pillars were rings for tethering horses. This became known as Solomon's Stables.
The Temple Mount has a long Jewish history, but also a Christian one. Jesus lashed out against the money changers at the Temple Mount and later was crucified a few hundred yards away.
Jesus' Cradle is located at the entrance to Solomon's Stables. It's a small room below the Temple Mount's surface which is entered via a winding staircase. The room includes a marble alcove originating from the early Byzantine period. The alcove is arched with borders in the shape of a conch shell. This location is where baby Jesus was laid down by Miriam after he was presented in the Temple. It is possible that there once stood a small church at this location. Christians used to go to this location to pray.
Al-Aqsa mosque, which Muslims say gives them claim to Jerusalem, and to the land of Israel, was built on top of Jewish and Christian structures.
In 1927, al-Aqsa mosque collapsed during an earthquake. During renovations, two photographers went inside the rubble and documented remnants of a Jewish Temple.
In late 1996, in the middle of the night, the waqf dug an enormous hole using tractors and earth movers in the southeastern portion of the Temple Mount. Archeologists and historians were outraged that the waqf removed and destroyed important artifacts documenting history.
The waqf is intentionally removing Jewish and Christian history in parts of Jerusalem that it has control over.
The Temple Mount has a long Jewish history, but also a Christian one. Jesus lashed out against the money changers at the Temple Mount and later was crucified a few hundred yards away.
Jesus' Cradle is located at the entrance to Solomon's Stables. It's a small room below the Temple Mount's surface which is entered via a winding staircase. The room includes a marble alcove originating from the early Byzantine period. The alcove is arched with borders in the shape of a conch shell. This location is where baby Jesus was laid down by Miriam after he was presented in the Temple. It is possible that there once stood a small church at this location. Christians used to go to this location to pray.
Al-Aqsa mosque, which Muslims say gives them claim to Jerusalem, and to the land of Israel, was built on top of Jewish and Christian structures.
In 1927, al-Aqsa mosque collapsed during an earthquake. During renovations, two photographers went inside the rubble and documented remnants of a Jewish Temple.
In late 1996, in the middle of the night, the waqf dug an enormous hole using tractors and earth movers in the southeastern portion of the Temple Mount. Archeologists and historians were outraged that the waqf removed and destroyed important artifacts documenting history.
The waqf is intentionally removing Jewish and Christian history in parts of Jerusalem that it has control over.
In November 2010, the Palestinian Authority published a "study" that stated the Western Wall is not a Jewish holy site, but is Islamic:
“This wall was never part of the so-called Temple Mount, but Muslim tolerance allowed the Jews to stand in front of it and weep over its destruction.”
Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of the state they want established in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The West Bank is filled with historical monuments and antiquities, but in 2019, the Palestinian Authority declared archaeological works in the area to be a crime. They do not want any Jewish or Christian artifacts or structures to be found.
The West Bank is home to many Christians who have reported that the Palestinian Authority security forces are not protecting Christian holy sites in the West Bank--they are destroying them.
As Palestinians gain more control, more archeological sites and ancient history will be destroyed.
Muslims are notorious for re-writing history to suit and glorify Islam (for more on how Muslims have re-written history, read Cheri's book: An American Woman Living in Egypt: Life during an Islamic takeover).
See also: Mecca and Islamic History is a lie
The Dome of the Rock is not an Islamic shrine
The Quran is not the words of Allah
“This wall was never part of the so-called Temple Mount, but Muslim tolerance allowed the Jews to stand in front of it and weep over its destruction.”
Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of the state they want established in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The West Bank is filled with historical monuments and antiquities, but in 2019, the Palestinian Authority declared archaeological works in the area to be a crime. They do not want any Jewish or Christian artifacts or structures to be found.
The West Bank is home to many Christians who have reported that the Palestinian Authority security forces are not protecting Christian holy sites in the West Bank--they are destroying them.
As Palestinians gain more control, more archeological sites and ancient history will be destroyed.
Muslims are notorious for re-writing history to suit and glorify Islam (for more on how Muslims have re-written history, read Cheri's book: An American Woman Living in Egypt: Life during an Islamic takeover).
See also: Mecca and Islamic History is a lie
The Dome of the Rock is not an Islamic shrine
The Quran is not the words of Allah