Arafat claims there never was a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem

Zionist Organization of America News Release - October 15, 2002

In another attempt to delegitimize Judaism and Jewish history, Yasir Arafat has again publicly claimed that the ancient Jewish temple was never situated in Jerusalem or any other part of the Land of Israel.

In an interview with the London-based Arab newspaper Al Hayat (Oct. 5, 2002), Arafat falsely claimed that archaeologists "have not found a single stone proving that the Temple of Solomon was there [on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem], because historically the Temple was not in Palestine."
[Translation courtesy of MEMRI.]

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: "If any other political leader made such statements denigrating Judaism and Jewish history, there would be an uproar.
Instead, the international community continues to treat Arafat as a legitimate statesman and even the Bush administration continues to meet with Arafat's senior aides. This double standard is deplorable, and it sends a message to Arafat and the Palestinian Arabs that they can continue to make such statements without consequences."

The ZOA president noted that Christian leaders who have recently made statements critical of Islam or Mohammed have been universally condemned and forced to publicly apologize. Yet when Palestinian Arab leaders made derogatory statements about Judaism, the international community is silent.

Arafat's statement is just the latest in a long series of statements by Palestinian Arab leaders denigrating Judaism or Jewish history.
For a free copy of the ZOA's report, Palestinian Arab Attacks on Judaism & Jewish History, please call the ZOA at 212-481-1500.