Published: 25, 2007 at 3:31 PM

JERUSALEM, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A former Muslim official in Jerusalem
claimed the city's famous Temple Mount never housed a Jewish temple and
the Western Wall was once part of a mosque.

Ikrema Sabri, the former mufti of Jerusalem, said Jews are incorrect in
believing the Western Wall, long revered as a Jewish holy site, was once
part of the ancient Second Temple, The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

"The wall is not part of the Jewish temple. It is just the western wall
of the mosque," he said. "There is not a single stone with any relation
at all to the history of the Hebrews."

"There was never a Jewish temple on Al-Aksa (the mosque compound) and
there is no proof that there was ever a temple," Sabri said. "Because
Allah is fair, he would not agree to make Al-Aksa if there were a temple
there for others beforehand."

When asked if Jews would be allowed to pray at the wall if it fell under
Muslim control, Sabri said: "It is not the Temple Mount, you must say
Al-Aksa. And no Jews have the right to pray at the mosque. It was always
only a mosque -- all 144 dunams, the entire area. No Jewish prayer. If
the Jews want real peace, they must not do anything to try to pray on
Al-Aksa. Everyone knows that."

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