Former MK Shuli Mualem of the Jewish Home Party at the Western Wall plaza after visiting the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on Aug. 29, 2017. Photo: Hadas Parush/Flash90.

JNS.org – Mahmoud al-Habbash, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’ adviser on religious affairs, told the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida this month that the presence of Jewish Israeli Knesset members in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount “defiles” the holy sites, and in particular, the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to a new report by Palestinian Media Watch, al-Habbash compared Zionism with the behavior of the ISIS terror organization.

He told the newspaper that by once again allowing MKs to visit the Temple Mount (a ban had been in place for nearly three years as a precaution against violence), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is engaging in bullying, arrogance and Zionist ‘ISIS-ism’ against the members of our people and its holy sites … ”

The Temple Mount is considered to be the holiest site in Judaism, and is also revered by Muslims.

Al-Habbash said Netanyahu’s decision is no less than a “war crime.” He added that the presence of Jewish Israeli MPs at Islamic holy sites both in Jerusalem and in Hebron constitutes “defilement.”

The full PMW report documents other recent antisemitic statements from PA officials regarding a Jewish presence on the Temple Mount.