'Mount Moriah': Temple Groups Fueling Tensions at al-Aqsa

Intense flames erupted behind the ‘Dome of the Rock,’ one of the most important landmarks of the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, sparking fear among millions of Muslims.

This was depicted in a video simulating a large fire at al-Aqsa Mosque, released by the extremist right-wing Israeli group, Temple Mount Activists.

On September 12, 2024, the extremist Zionist group “Sons of Mount Moriah” quickly claimed responsibility for the video, which was viewed by millions of Muslims around the world.

The group posted the video on social media with the caption “Coming soon in our days” and the phrase “Ultimate Victory.”

They later re-posted the video as part of their preparations for the long holiday season, which runs from Thursday, October 3, 2024, until Friday, October 25.

During this season, the Temple groups, including the “Sons of Mount Moriah,” are planning the largest assault in history on al-Aqsa Mosque, as they declared on their platforms and websites.

This year’s holiday season also coincides with the first anniversary of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, making it likely one of the most intense attacks on al-Aqsa, especially since the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu views the anniversary as painful and is planning a multi-front offensive with the Temple Mount groups leading the charge.

So, who are the Sons of Mount Moriah? What is the so-called Temple Coalition? And what are their plans for al-Aqsa Mosque?

‘Sons of Mount Moriah’

This movement was officially launched on September 19, 2023, by a group of individuals from the “Temple Mount Administration,” a Zionist organization seeking to establish the Temple on the ruins of al-Aqsa Mosque.

Its inaugural activity was a massive demonstration that took place outside the home of Israeli Occupation’s extremist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in the Kiryat Arba settlement, east of Hebron.

The question that arose at that time was: What does the term “Mount Moriah” signify? Why has the group adopted it as its name and emblem?

The concept stems from the Jewish belief that the area of the Noble Sanctuary is, in fact, Mount Moriah, where the Prophet Abraham ascended to sacrifice his son Isaac according to Jewish traditions.

This is also the location of Solomon's Temple, which is why Jews refer to the Noble Sanctuary as “Temple Mount.”

This area is considered the holiest for them, and the city of occupied Jerusalem has 70 names in Jewish tradition, including Zion, the City of David, Ariel, and Moriah.

The “Sons of Mount Moriah,” a youth settlement organization, takes the extremist rabbi Meir Kahane—assassinated in 1990—as its role model and spiritual guide.

They frequently quote his sayings and describe themselves as part of the new generation of Temple organizations.

Meir Kahane

To understand the danger of this movement's connection to the ideas of Rabbi Kahane, one must examine his ideology.

Kahane was the founder of the right-wing “Kach” movement, which resorted to armed struggle. He previously won a seat in the Knesset in 1984 before his movement was classified as “terrorist and fascist.”

Kahane's school of thought, known as “Kahanism,” blended extreme nationalism, political religiousness, and violent practices.

According to the beliefs of the “Kach” movement and Kahanism, the “Sons of Mount Moriah” and similar groups subscribe to the idea that Arabs in Palestine are enemies who must be violently expelled and cannot coexist with Jews.

They believe that Jews from around the world should migrate to Palestine, as it is the promised holy land.

However, the ideology of the “Kach” movement did not remain theoretical; it took a horrific turn when one of its members, Baruch Goldstein, carried out the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 29 Palestinian worshippers on February 25, 1994.

In the aftermath of this massacre, the Israeli Occupation was compelled to ban the “Kach” movement, labeling it “terrorist.”

In contrast, the “Sons of Mount Moriah” regard the perpetrator of the massacre as a “hero” and are known to display his image on the walls of their headquarters.

On August 13, 2024, the movement released a video showing a large fire at al-Aqsa Mosque, coinciding with the Hebrew observance known as the “Temple Destruction Remembrance.”

This was based on their belief that the destruction of al-Aqsa and the establishment of the Temple are imminent, according to their claims.

Days later, on August 28, they published another video of a destructive warhead targeting al-Aqsa Mosque to facilitate the establishment of the Temple in its place.

A New Generation (Temple Organizations)

Palestinian researcher on occupied Jerusalem affairs, Ziad Ibhais, discussed, in a post on X, the position of the “Sons of Mount Moriah” within the alliance of extremist Temple organizations.

He noted that “the number of Temple organizations has reached nearly 60, divided into two groups based on generation and political views.”

The first group consists of older institutions that “operate under the umbrella of the Temple Organizations Coalition.” This group is composed of older rabbis, including institutions like the Temple Institute of Jerusalem, Ateret Cohanim (It means the Priesthood’s Crown Organization), Elad settler organization, (also known as Ir David Foundation), and the New Sanhedrin.

He added that these (older) members advocate for the necessity of cooperating with the Israeli Occupation police, emphasizing a gradual influence on society and the state to establish a religious replacement agenda and to build the Temple in place of al-Aqsa Mosque. They talk more about “sharing” rather than removing al-Aqsa from existence.

Ibhais explained that the second group, which is the more dangerous, consists of newly formed organizations with younger, more radical members. They unite under the “Third Temple Coalition,” established in late 2020.

This group includes organizations like “Sons of Mount Moriah,” “The Temple is in Our Hands,” “Return to the Temple Mount,” and others.

These modern groups, including “Sons of Mount Moriah,” represent the latest generation or version of the Temple Organizations Coalition.

They perceive the previous generation's approach as slow and ineffective in achieving the desired change. Consequently, they pressure the Israeli Occupation police and criticized their measures to protect al-Aqsa, accusing them of being “anti-Semitic.”

They further claim that the police discriminate against Jews at al-Aqsa and believe that Itamar Ben-Gvir has changed from his previous stance, now acting as a “tamed leftist” who is not doing enough.

They see the current opportunity as ripe for forcibly establishing the Temple after demolishing and burning al-Aqsa Mosque.

Within the Government

These various groups, regardless of their orientations, do not operate entirely outside the Israeli Occupation government.

The gradual escalation of the Temple organizations in terms of number, organization, cohesion, and their ability to mobilize funding underscores their infiltration and rise within both the parliamentary and governmental sectors.

They have shifted from merely forming militias and expressing themselves outside the system to establishing institutions and possessing power within it.

In the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which was formed on December 29, 2022, consisting of 31 ministers, 16 are aligned with the Temple groups and have openly declared their support for their ideologies and objectives.

This means they advocate for building the Temple in place of al-Aqsa Mosque and are committed to using all available state military, political, economic, and security resources to achieve this goal.

Among the Temple Coalition movements represented in the parliament and government are “Return for the Mountain,” “Students for the Temple,” and “Women for the Temple.”

Extreme Rituals

Among the rituals employed by these groups is their attempt to expand the space for performing Torah rituals to the western side of al-Aqsa, near the Western Portico, effectively creating a new area for exclusive access.

This includes reviving the experience of settlers dancing at the gates and asserting sound dominance over the area. They also publicly showcase repetitive trumpet blowing inside the courtyards of al-Aqsa and around its gates and walls.

These groups storm al-Aqsa dressed in “white garments of repentance,” mimicking the attire of the priestly class, and openly perform the “Priestly Blessing” prayers within the compound.

They also impose plant sacrifices or “fruit of the booth” at al-Aqsa, culminating in the performance of “Torah Wedding” rituals in full view of Muslim worshippers.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal, Palestinian activist Jamal Hassasneh stated that “the Temple Coalition and the Mount Moriah group are a natural outgrowth of an entity dominated by Zionism in its most extreme and violent form.”

This is especially evident after they formed the government and played a significant role in the events of October 7, where Operation al-Aqsa Flood erupted against the Zionist machinery of oppression and death.

Hassasneh added that the danger of these groups lies in their current status as an essential part of the system, representing Israeli Occupation’s most threatening face instead of the secular Mask it has worn for long periods.

Thus, the process of Judaizing sacred sites, particularly al-Aqsa, is no longer merely an invitation, practice, or initiative; it has become a strategy and plan closer to execution than ever before, according to the Palestinian activist.

“The steadfast defenders of occupied Jerusalem can no longer rely solely on traditional methods to confront these groups, and the Arab and Islamic nations have historical and religious obligations to curb this rising Zionist terrorism and its militias,” Hassasneh concluded.