Arafat meets with Wakf leaders over Jewish Temple Mount visits

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1058927602152

Jul. 23, 2003
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Wednesday summoned the heads of the Wakf [Islamic religious trust] Department in Jerusalem to discuss the situation on the Temple Mount in the aftermath of organized visits to the compound by non-Muslims.

Arafat reportedly urged the ambassadors to pressure their governments into raising the issue with Israel and the US. He told the ambassadors and diplomats: "Jewish settlers and extremists were desecrating the Aksa mosque by storming it under the protection of the Israeli police." He warned that the continued visits would lead to an "explosion" in the area and demanded that their governments take immediate action to stop the tours.