To the editor:
The situation described in the article "Palestinian Women Join Effort to Keep Jews From Contested Holy Site" is absurd.
The Temple Mount is, by far, the holiest spot on earth for Jews; for Muslims, it comes in a distant third, far behind Mecca and Medina. It is in the heart of Israel's capital of Jerusalem, the site of the Temple built by King Solomon nearly three millennia ago.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is called a "hard-liner," but his government allows Arabs 24/7 access to the Temple Mount through ten different gates while restricting Jewish access to no more than 25 hours per week through a single, wooden walkway. It also prevents Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, is called a "moderate" but incites his people against the Jews, saying he will not allow his "holy places to be contaminated" even as Arab youths desecrate those holy places with their soccer games.
Of course, if the situation was reversed, there would be an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to condemn Israel. It's called a double standard.
Sincerely,
Alan Stein