Hastening Armageddon: The Future of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the ‘Deal of The Century’ within the Framework of Christian Zionisim

Yıl 2023, , 29 - 62, 30.06.2023

Khalid El-awaisi , Büşra Betül Sağlam

https://doi.org/10.31456/beytulmakdis.1243602

Öz

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Bayt al-Maqdis, and the fate of Palestine have emerged as central topics in the Deal of the Century (DoC), presenting a one-sided viewpoint deeply loaded with a biased political, historical and religious narrative. This paper examines the visions of Christian Zionists concerning the future of al-Aqsa Mosque as outlined in the ‘deal’. Primarily, it is concluded that the Deal proposes a major change in the status quo of al-Aqsa Mosque by temporally dividing and allocating it only to Jews and Christians on their respective holidays. Secondly, it lays the foundation for spatial division giving Jews exclusive use of parts of al-Aqsa Mosque, as implemented in the Ibrahim Mosque in Hebron. The third phase, implied but not explicitly stated, revolves around the Zionist ideology of the construction of a ‘Jewish Temple’ over the site of al-Aqsa Mosque. This inference is drawn from the impact of Christian Zionism on American politics and the anticipation of Christ's Second Coming. Furthermore, the inclusion of the entire area of al-Aqsa Mosque within the target of the ‘Jewish Temple’ plan, in accordance with the idea that Jesus Christ would enter the site and particularly from an unsealed Bab al-Rahma or the Golden Gate. As a result, the DoC proposes the division of time, space and the sharing of the mosque as a starting point, in line with evangelical plans; the successful completion of which will see the construction of a ‘Jewish Temple’ to hasten the advent of the apocalypse. This endeavour reflects Christian Zionists’ fervent efforts to reshape the world order by forcing the ‘Hand of God’, and bringing about their long-held desire for Armageddon, through the instrumentalisation of Jews for the fulfilment of their scheme.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Deal of the Century, Second Coming, Evangelism, Armageddon, Jewish Temple

Destekleyen Kurum

Social Sciences University of Ankara

استعجال آرمجدون: مستقبل المسجد الأقصى في "صفقة القرن" في إطار الصهيونية المسيحية

Öz

برز مصير المسجد الأقصى وبيت المقدس وفلسطين بشكل عام كمواضيع أساسية في "صفقة القرن"، مع إضفاء وجهة نظر أحادية مرتكزة على سردية سياسية وتاريخية ودينية متحيزة. تناقش هذه الورقة رؤية الصهيونية المسيحية فيما يتعلق بمستقبل المسجد الأقصى كما هو محدد في "صفقة القرن". وتم الاستنتاج في المقام الأول أن "الصفقة" تقترح تغييرًا جذريا في ما يطلق عليه "الوضع الراهن" للمسجد الأقصى من خلال تقسيمه زمانيًا وتخصيصه حصريا لليهود والمسيحيين في أعيادهم. ثانيًا، تضع "الصفقة" حجر الأساس للتقسيم المكاني الذي يمنح حصريًا لليهود استخدام أجزاء من المسجد الأقصى، كما هو الحال في المسجد الإبراهيمي في الخليل. أما المرحلة الثالثة فتم الإشارة لها ضمنيا بشكل مبطن وتنبعث من الأيديولوجية الصهيونية لبناء "هيكل يهودي" مكان المسجد الأقصى. وهذا الاستنتاج مستمد من تأثير الإنجيليين على السياسة الأمريكية وتوقع المجيء الثاني للمسيح. علاوة على ذلك، فإن إدراج مثل هذه التطورات يكشف عن رؤية تفضيلية للصهيونية المسيحية والمؤمنون بها لمستقبل منطقة "الشرق الأوسط". حيث ان كامل مساحة المسجد الأقصى تندرج ضمن مخطط "الهيكل اليهودي"، وفقًا لمعتقدهم أن المسيح المنتظر سيدخل إلى المسجد من خلال باب الرحمة (الذهبي) المغلق حاليا. لذا فان "صفقة القرن" تقترح التقسيم الزماني والمكاني وتقاسم المسجد كنقطة انطلاقة لهذه النبوءات، بما يتماشى مع خطط المسيحيين الإنجيليين؛ والذي إن تم استكماله بنجاح سيتوج ببناء "الهيكل اليهودي" المزعوم على أنقاض المسجد الأقصى والإسراع في أحداث الخلاص ونهاية العالم. ويعكس هذا المسعى الجهود الحثيثة التي تبذلها الصهيونية المسيحية وتوظيف اليهود في ذلك، لإعادة تشكيل النظام العالمي من خلال جرّ "يد الله" وتحقيق غايتهم لتسريع حرب آرمجدون ونهاية العالم.

Anahtar Kelimeler

الصهيونية المسيحية, المسجد الأقصى, صفقة القرن, الهيكل اليهودي, حرب آرمجدون, الإنجيليون, المجيء الثاني

Armageddon'u Hızlandırmak: Hıristiyan Siyonizmi Çerçevesinde 'Yüzyılın Anlaşması'nda Mescid-i Aksa'nın Geleceği

Öz

Mescid-i Aksa, Beytülmakdis ve Filistin'in kaderi; yanlı politik, tarihi ve dini anlatıma dayanmak suretiyle tek taraflı bir bakış açısını yansıtan Yüzyılın Anlaşması’nın (DoC) temel konuları olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu makale, Hristiyan Siyonistlerin 'anlaşmada' belirtilen Mescid-i Aksa'nın geleceğine dair vizyonlarını incelemektedir. Öncelikle, Anlaşma'nın El-Aksa Camii'nin statüsü üzerinde; kendi kutsal günlerinde sadece Yahudiler ve Hristiyanlara tahsis edilerek zamansal anlamda bölünmesi yoluyla büyük bir değişiklik önerdiği sonucuna varılmıştır. İkinci olarak, El-Halil'deki İbrahim Camii'nde uygulandığı gibi, Mescid-i Aksa’nın da bazı kısımlarının özel olarak sadece Yahudiler tarafından kullanmalarını teklif eden mekânsal bölünmenin temelini atmaktadır. Üçüncü aşama, kastedildiği ancak açıkça ifade edilmediği üzere, Siyonist ideolojinin Mescid-i Aksa'nin üzerine bir ‘Yahudi Tapınağı’ inşa etme düşüncesi etrafında dönmektedir. Bu çıkarım, Hristiyan Siyonizminin Amerikan politikası üzerindeki etkisinden ve İsa’nın İkinci Gelişinin beklentisinden edinilmektedir. Ayrıca, İsa Mesih’in bu alana, şuan kapatılmış olan Babu’r-Rahme yani Altın Kapı’dan gireceği görüşüne bağlı olarak; Mescid-i Aksa sahasının tamamının bu “Yahudi Tapınağı” planı kapsamına girmesi de bu çıkarım içerisinde değerlendirilebilir. Sonuç olarak, Yüzyılın Anlaşması; mescidin zamansal ve mekânsal bölünmesini ve paylaşımını, evanjelik planlar doğrultusunda bir başlangıç noktası olarak önermekte ve kıyametin gelişini hızlandırmak adına bir ‘Yahudi Tapınağı’ inşasını da bu planın başarılı bir şekilde tamamlanması olarak görmektedir. Bu uğraş; Hristiyan Siyonistlerin, Yahudileri kendi planlarını gerçekleştirmede enstrüman haline getirmek suretiyle, “Tanrı'nın Eli”ni zorlayarak dünya düzenini yeniden şekillendirmek ve uzun süredir arzuladıkları Armageddonu getirmek için ortaya koydukları hararetli çabaları yansıtmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Mescid-i Aksa, Yüzyılın Anlaşması, İkinci Geliş, Evanjelizm, Armagedon, Yahudi Tapınağı

Kaynakça

• Abu Munshar, M. Y. (2012). Islamic Jerusalem and Its Christians: A History of Tolerance and Tensions. London: I.B. Tauris.
• Abu Shammalah, S. (2019). Bayt Al-Maqdis: A Short History from Ancient to Modern Times. In A.F. El-Awaisi & M. Ataman (Eds.), Al-Quds: History, Religion and Politics (pp. 43-68). Ankara: SETA.
• Adri, S.R.M. (2020). Trump’s “Peace Policy” towards Palestine and Israel Conflict. Research Gate.
• Al Jubeh, N. (2003). Bab al-Magharibah: Joha's Nail in the Haram al-Sharif. Jerusalem Quarterly, 18, 17–24.
• Albayrak, H.Ş. (2019). Christian Zionism in the US: Its Roots, Founding Principles and Its Influence in American Politics. Darulfunun Theology, 30(1), 141-169.
• Al-Jubeh, N. (2010). 1917 to the Present: Basic Changes, but not Dramatic: Al-Haram Al-Sharif in the Aftermath of 1967. In O. Grabar & B.Z. Kedar (Eds.), Where Heaven and Earth Meet: Jerusalem's Sacred Esplanade. University of Texas Press.
• Al-Ratrout, H.F. (2004). The Architectural Development of al-Aqsa Mosque in Islamic Jerusalem in the early Islamic period: sacred architecture in the shape of the “Holy”. Dundee: Al-Maktoum Institute Academic Press.
• Al-Ratrout, H.F. (2013). The Second Mosque on Earth That Islamicjerusalem Forgot: Revealing the Ancient Al-Aqsa Mosque. Journal of Islamicjerusalem Studies, 13, 23–52.
• Amal, K. (2021). He Claimed That “God” Sent Him to Burn Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Israeli Courts Acquitted Him... The 52nd Anniversary of the Australian Michael Rohan’s crime, available at https://sunnafiles.com/2021/08/23/63002 (Accessed 15.12.2022)
• Anadolu Agency. (2013, November 4). Israeli parliament to discuss Bill to “divide” al-Aqsa Mosque. Anadolu Ajansı. http://v.aa.com.tr/206795
• Armstrong, H.W. (1967). Personal from the Editor. The Plain Truth: a magazine of understanding, vol. XXXII, No. 6 (June 1967), pp. 1-5.
• Armstrong, K. (1997). Sacred Space: The Holiness of Islamic Jerusalem. Journal of Islamic Jerusalem Studies, 1(1), 5-21.
• Armstutz, M.R. (2016). Evangelicals and American Foreign Policy. Oxford University Press.
• Berzak, J. (2014). The Palestinian Bid for Statehood: It's Repercussions for Business and International Law. Journal of International Business and Law, 12(1), 89-114.
• Blackstone, W. E. (1989). Jesus Is Coming: God's Hope for a Restless World. Michigan: Kregel publications.
• Cohen-Hattab, K., & Bar, D. (2018). From Wailing to Rebirth: the Development of the Western Wall as an Israeli National Symbol after the Six-Day War. Contemporary Jewry, 38(2), 281-300.
• Doğru, I. (2022, October 17). No president has done more for Israel than I have: Trump. Anadolu Ajansı. http://v.aa.com.tr/2713242
• Durbin, S. (2020). From King Cyrus to Queen Esther: Christian Zionists’ Discursive Construction of Donald Trump as God’s Instrument. Critical Research on Religion, 8(2), 115-137.
• El-Awaisi, A.F. (2020). Fethin İnşasında Nebevî Bir Kavram Olarak Beytülmakdis. İstanbul: TÜGVA.
• El-Awaisi, K., & Yiğit, E. (2020). Early Foreign Penetration in the Holy Land during the Late Ottoman Period: The Role of Britain. Journal of Islamicjerusalem Studies, 20(1), 1-18.
• El-Awaisi, K. (2007). Mapping Islamicjerusalem: A Rediscovery of Geographical Boundaries. Dundee: Al-Maktoum Institute Academic Press.
• El-Awaisi, K. (2019a). Whose Holy Land? The Meanings and Origins of the Names of Bayt al-Maqdis. In A.F. El-Awaisi & M. Ataman (Eds.), Al-Quds History, Religion, and Politics (19-35). Ankara: SETA Publications.
• El-Awaisi, K. (2019b). The Origins of the Idea of Establishing a “Zionist Client-State” in Islamicjerusalem. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 14(1), 13-26.
• El-Awaisi, K., & Yavuz, C. (2020). The Future of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Light of Trump’s Deal of the Century. Insight Turkey, 22(3), 215-235.
• Emek Shaveh. (2020). The Sanctification of Antiquity Sites in the Jerusalem Section of the ‘Peace to Prosperity’ Plan. https://emekshaveh.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sanctification-of-antiquity-sites-in-the-Jerusalem-section-of-the-%E2%80%98Peace-to-Prosperity%E2%80%99-plan.pdf
• Fırat, E. (2019). The 'Threat' of Fanatical Jews has Changed the Time of Eid Prayers in Aqsa. Anadolu Ajansı. http://v.aa.com.tr/1553773
• Gerringer, B. & C. (1975). Bob and Connie Gerringer’s Letter to Charles Hunting. The Ambassador Report, https://thepainfultruth.org/gerringer-letter
• Gottlieb, Jonathan (2022, October 13). MK Yom Tov Kalphon went up to the Temple Mount. Israel National News. https://www.inn.co.il/news/579880
• Gündüz, Ş. (2018). Evangelicalism: Christian Fanaticism. HİKAV. hikav.org/makaleler/evanjelizm-hiristiyan-fanatizmi
• Hasson, N. (2019). The Most Mysterious Gate in Jerusalem's Old City Is Still Puzzling Researchers. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-for-over-1-000-years-j-lem-s-golden-gate-has-been-at-center-of-religious-conflicts-1.7046254
• Holy Bible, available at https://www.biblegateway.com; https://biblehub.com
• Human Rights Council (2022). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. A/HRC/49/87. 21 March 2022. www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/A_HRC_49_87_AdvanceUneditedVersion.docx
• International Commission (1999). Al-Buraq Wall the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Report of the International Commission appointed by the British Government in 1930 and approved by the Council of the League of Nations in 1931. UK: Islamic Research Academy (IRAP).
• Israel National News. (2022, 13 October). Jews who smuggled Four Species on Temple Mount awarded 500 NIS. Israel National News. www.israelnationalnews.com/news/361123
• Jallad, E. (2017). Ma‘alim al-Aqsa taht al-Mijhar. Ramallah: Markaz Bayt al-Maqdis lil-Adab. Jones, Ryan (2022, September 21). Red Heifer Mania? Or Overlooking Prophecy?. Israel Today. https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/red-heifer-mania-or-overlooking-prophecy
• Jundi, Aseel (2023, January 2). Ben Gvir is preparing to storm him for the first time as a minister, Temple groups are calling for a Jewish synagogue in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Aljazeera. https://aja.me/atqgbx
• Kampeas, R. (2019, September 11). Who is Avi Berkowitz, the new man working on Israeli-Palestinian peace?. Jewish Community Voice. https://www.jewishvoicesnj.org/articles/who-is-avi-berkowitz-the-new-man-working-on-israeli-palestinian-peace
• Kurtoğlu, R. (2016). Evangelicalism: Forcing God to the Apocalypse. Istanbul: Aşina.
• Lieberman, A. (2019). UN Palestinian Agency Considers New Approach To Overcome US Funding Cuts. Devex. https://www.devex.com/news/un-palestinian-agency-considers-new-approach-to-overcome-us-funding-cuts-94926
• Ma’oz, M. (2014). The Role of the Temple Mount / Al-Haram Al-Sharif in the Deterioration of Muslim– Jewish Relations. Approaching Religion, 4(2), 60-70.
• Martin, E. L. (2000). The Temples That Jerusalem Forgot. Portland: ASK Publications.
• Middle East Eye. (2020, January 31). Jared Kushner, here are 25 more books you should read about Palestine, Israel relations. MEE. https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/jared-kushner-25-books-read-palestine-israel
• Nagtegaal, Brent. (2022). A Warm Friend of Israel. Let the Stones Speak, 1(4), 26–29. https://armstronginstitute.org/750-a-warm-friend-of-israel
• Nor, M.R.M. (2006). Islamicjerusalem: The Land of the Night Journey and Ascension. Journal of Islamicjerusalem Studies, 7(1), 3–54.
• Payne, R.A. (2017, February). Trump and American Foreign Policy; A Threat to Peace and Prosperity [Conference presentation]. International Studies Association Annual Meeting, Baltimore.
• Pink, A. (2020, January 30). Here’s what Jared Kushner read to prepare for his Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. The Forward. https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/439181/jared-kushner-israeli-palestinian-books
• Price, R. (2006) Update on the Building of the Third Temple. Available at: www.jewishvoice.org/read/article/update-building-third-temple (Accessed 7 December 2021)
• Ricca, S. (2010). Heritage, Nationalism and the Shifting Symbolism of the Wailing Wall. Archives de sciences sociales des religions, 151, 169-188.
• Ross, D. (2015). Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, pp: 14-17.
• Sağlam, B.B. (2023). A Critical Study of the Future of Al-Aqsa Mosque within the Framework of the Deal of the Century from Christian Zionists Perspective, MA Thesis, Social Sciences University of Ankara (ASBU), Quds Studies, Ankara.
• Sawafta, A., & al-Mughrabi, N. (2020). 'Slap of the Century': Palestinians Reject Trump Mideast Plan. Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-plan-reactions-idUSKBN1ZR2BN
• Shragai, N. (2023, April 1). The next crisis? Officials set to discuss expanded access for Jews on Temple Mount. Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/01/04/the-next-crisis-official-set-to-discuss-expanded-access-to-jews-on-temple-mount
• Sizer, S. (2006). Christian Zionism Road-Map to Armageddon? Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.
• Sonnenfeld, J. Ch. (1929). Message of Truth and Peace. The Palestine Bulletin, Friday 29 November 1929, vol. 1472, p. 3.
• The White House (2020). Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People. Washington: The White House. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Peace-to-Prosperity-0120.pdf
• Thompson, J. (2018). Trump’s Middle East Policy. CSS Analyses in Security Policy, 233. https://doi.org/10.3929/ETHZ-B-000292962
• Trump, D. J. & Netanyahu, B. (2020, January 28). Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of the State of Israel in Joint Statements [Speech Transcript]. The White House, The United States Government. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-prime-minister-netanyahu-state-israel-joint-statements
• Wermenbol, G. (2019). Israel-Palestine and the Deal of the Century U.S. Foreign Policy under President Donald J. Trump 2017–2019.
• Yerushalmi, S. (2023, June 7). Amit Halevy divides the Temple Mount. Zman Israel (Times of Israel's Hebrew current affairs website). https://www.zman.co.il/399175
• Yetim, M. (2020). The Latest Process in the "Plan of the Century": Israeli Annexation Attempts and Reactions. ORSAM. https://www.orsam.org.tr/tr/yuzyilin-planinda-son-surec-israilin-ilhak-girisimleri-ve-tepkiler
• Zalzberg, O. (2020). The Trump Plan Threatens the Status Quo at the Temple Mount/al-Haram al-Sharif. Palestine-Israel Journal of Politics, Economics and Culture, 25(1-2), 129-133.
• Zanotti, J. (2019). "Israel and the Palestinians: U.S. Peace Plan and Possible Israeli Annexation" available at https://sgp.fas.org/crs/mideast/IN11214.pdf (Accessed 1.12.2021).