(Davidov) Public Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi spoke of alleged threats to blow up or attack the Temple Mount. Good afternoon, No'am Federman.
(Federman) Good afternoon.
(Davidov) Is the Temple Mount a target for an attack?
(Federman) The Temple Mount is the most sacred place for the Jewish people, the place where unclean mosques are situated. When the Temple Mount is built, God willing, these places will be no more.
(Davidov) What are you guided by when you say this?
(Federman) What do you mean, what am I guided by? The Temple Mount is the Jewish people's most sacred place. We call it that because that was where the Temple stood. There is no guidance or anything. This is the holiest place for the Jewish people, and the mosques should not be there.
(Davidov) At all?
(Federman) Of course.
(Davidov) Do you realize what a disaster may happen as a result of an attack on the Temple Mount, what an international disaster it will cause, what the consequences of this grave deed would be?
(Federman) Let me tell you something: I happen to remember that those who used the Temple Mount as a catalyst to create a political reaction was none other than Arik Sharon. He did it three years ago. While Ehud Baraq was negotiating over the Temple Mount, Arik Sharon entered the Temple Mount in person and caused a reaction that ended in his becoming prime minister. Had he realized what would happen? I do not perceive the Temple Mount as a place where something should be done because of Arik Sharon's plan to expel Jews from the Gaza Strip. I view the Temple Mount as the holiest place for the Jewish people, the place where the Temple should be located. Regardless of Arik Sharon's political plans, that's where we will build the Temple, God willing, and there will be no more mosques there.
(Davidov) Tell me, No'am Federman, if you had an opportunity to act today, would you do it?
(Federman) I prefer the Temple Mount to be formally cleared of mosques by the Government of Israel, and I am certain that it will happen. It's just a matter of time.
(Davidov) You do know it won't happen, No'am.
(Federman) I know that it will happen. It's just a matter of time. Arabs won't settle for Arik Sharon's expulsion of Qatif Bloc residents. The entire Judaea and Samaria will follow the Qatif Bloc, and Jerusalem will follow the entire Judaea and Samaria. And when it gets to the point of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount issue will come up too, and when the Temple Mount issue comes up, the Jewish people will have to choose between the mosques and the Temple.
(Davidov) With regard to international criticism, every expert is sure that the Temple Mount issue can be reason for a global war. Don't you take these risks, these consequences into consideration when you say such grave things here?
(Federman) I haven't said anything grave. I think the issue was first brought up by the Shin Bet's anti-Jewish department -- a whole department that has to manufacture, to invent an underground once in a while to get paid. Arik Sharon is trying to deflect public attention away from the expulsion of Jews from their homes. The expulsion of children, women, and babies from their homes is an attempt to deflect public attention. First it was the possible assassination of the prime minister, now it's the Temple Mount, and maybe it'll be Mecca tomorrow, I don't know. All I know is that Arik Sharon should not be the prime minister. This man wants to expel Jews, to move them out, and this man should be in a geriatric institution at best, or in prison for all the horrible things he has been doing. God willing, he won't be prime minister regardless of the Temple Mount.
(Davidov) You know, we should maintain some level of decorum when speaking on air, but the one who spoke out on the Temple Mount issue was Tzahi Hanegbi, who isn't exactly known to be an ardent leftist. Is there anything you would like to say to Tzahi Hanegbi, whose remarks were evidently based on information?
(Federman) I don't know what information he has, all I know is that two weeks ago, they spoke of the possible assassination of the prime minister. Now they are talking about the Temple Mount, and I don't know what they will be talking about tomorrow. This is just an attempt to deflect public attention away from the ruthless expulsion of Jews, of women, children, and babies, to other matters. Moreover, this is an attempt to set the ground for administrative detentions at best, and possibly beyond that -- possibly even liquidations.
(Davidov) Thank you, No'am Federman.
(Description of Source: Jerusalem Voice of Israel Network B in Hebrew -- State-funded radio; independent in content)
Translated from the original by WNC.
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