Dr. Mordechai Kedar on "Arab Terrorism and the Myth of al Aqsa"

   For decades, Palestinian Arabs, following their leaders from the notorious Grand Mufti, Haj Amin al Husseini in the 1920's to Yasir Arafat and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, have resurrected the canard that the Jews are imminently trying to destroy the "farthest mosque", the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  Built by the Umayyads in 705 CE following the invasion and colonization of Jewish Palestine in 638 CE on top of the Herodian temple complex, it has served as a symbol of domination over an indigenous people for centuries.
Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a distinguished professor of  Arabic literature and culture at Bar Ilan University, presents the history of Arab and Islamic views of this mosque in particular, and, a brilliant analysis of Islam in general - as it relates to its foundational texts and worldview.  This talk is indispensable to understanding the current Israeli-Arab-Muslim conflict.
Here is Part 1.  Part 2 will follow tomorrow.  In addition, check out Professor Kedar's memorable appearance on Al Jazeera a few years ago.  Were the faithful of J Street to watch his presentation, I'm sure they would be instantly disabused of their fantasies.

He recently appeared at Rabbi Jonathan Hausman's synagogue, Ahavath Torah, in Stoughton, MA.  Rabbi Hausman has been singularly brilliant in his presentation of world class scholars and dissidents on the subject of Jihad.