November 22, 2010

Contact: Nathan J. Diament – 202-513-6484

Orthodox Union Condemns Palestinian Authority Denial of Jews’ Connection to Western Wall

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – condemned the Palestinian Authority for its latest propaganda effort to delegitimize the State of Israel and the unbroken ties of Jews to Jerusalem over three millennia.

A report issued today by the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Information denies the historic connection of the Jewish People to the Western Wall, stating that it “was never part of the so-called Temple Mount, but Muslim tolerance allowed the Jews to stand in front of it and weep over its destruction” and denies evidence of the Temple Mount being built during the period of King Solomon.

OU director of public policy Nathan Diament issued the following statement:

“This official government propaganda is contemptible, historically false and runs afoul of efforts to achieve peace with the State of Israel. Coming from an official arm of the Palestinian Authority it is nothing other than official incitement.
It is further evidence of why Jerusalem must remain unified under a single flag that recognizes and guarantees the rights of all its citizens.”

OU leaders have sent a letter to President Obama asking that he repudiate this act of anti-Israel incitement perpetrated by an official arm of the Palestinian Authority.