The Fate of Al-Aqsa

On November 11, an urgent Arab-Islamic summit was held in Riyadh, addressing the issue of Palestine. This was an extremely significant event.

Noteworthy was the simultaneous participation of Assad and Erdogan, a convergence that would have been impossible until recently. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke not only about Palestine but also about the need to support Iran and Hezbollah — a sensational shift, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have traditionally been considered adversaries. The same applies to Hezbollah.

Finally, in his speech, Mohammed bin Salman stated explicitly that at stake is not only the existence of Palestine but also the fate of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s second holiest site after Mecca. It is worth recalling that Hamas’ operation on October 7, 2023, was named “Al-Aqsa Flood,” justified by the perceived threat to this holy site. It is clear that Hamas leaders hoped such an emergency Arab-Islamic summit would convene much sooner — perhaps immediately after the start of Israel’s ground operation in Gaza. Now, with Gaza and the leadership of Hamas (and much of Hezbollah) almost completely destroyed, the summit has finally taken place.

The question is: why now?

Clearly, it is due to Trump. Trump is a supporter of right-wing Zionism — of Netanyahu and radicals like Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and Rabbi Dov Lior. They openly proclaim that the Al-Aqsa Mosque must be demolished as soon as possible. After Trump’s election, emboldened, Smotrich declared that now is also the time to begin eradicating Palestinians from the West Bank. And, of course, to finally demolish Al-Aqsa. Mahmoud Abbas, despite his efforts to maintain a moderate stance, watching the genocide of his people in Gaza, could not escape the Zionists’ unwavering resolve to pursue the “final solution” to the Palestinian question.

Trump accelerated these processes. Now, proponents of moderation towards the West have no arguments left: Israel is determined to annihilate or deport the Palestinian population from Israel, demolish the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and commence construction of the Third Temple. In the work of right-wing Zionist Yitzhak Shapira, The King’s Torah, published in 2009 and endorsed by Dov Lior, a theoretician of Judaic messianism, there is an explicit call for the physical destruction of all “enemies of Israel,” including women, children, and the elderly. This is precisely how Israelis are acting in Gaza and are now targeting the Palestinian Authority (recognized by the UN as a state) in the West Bank.

These factors have compelled the leaders of the Islamic world to overcome internal contradictions and gather together in Riyadh. Erdogan called for a boycott of Israel. Bin Salman demanded recognition of Palestine and urged the unification of all Islamic countries to resist Zionist aggression against Palestinians, Lebanon, and Iran. Meanwhile, Israel is also attacking Syria, making Assad’s presence highly symbolic.

The Islamic pole in a multipolar world is finally — though belatedly — taking shape. Perhaps the leaders themselves would have preferred to continue avoiding consolidation and seek compromises with the West. But this is now dangerous for them: the Muslim populations in their countries — witnessing their leaders’ passivity, watching the mass extermination of Palestinians, and fearing the destruction of their religious sanctity — will not tolerate this indefinitely.

Muslims can only unite through a common war against a common enemy. It is at the doorstep.