Interview: Ziad Abu Zayyad - prohibit shofar blowing at Western Wall

Aaron Lerner Date: 31 December 2000

IMRA interviewed Jerusalem Palestinian Legislative Council
representative, Ziad Abu Zayyad, in English, on December 31, 2000.

IMRA: You said today in an interview that the "Wailing Wall" or
Western Wall is the Burak Wall and thus part of the Al Aqsa Mosque.
What is the ramification of this position?

Zayyad: I would like to refer you to the case that was discussed in
1929. There was a dispute at that time and it was investigated by an
international committee.

IMRA: As I recall the issue at the time was that the blowing of a
shofar (ram's horn) at the Wall was seen as a problem.

Zayyad: Yes.

IMRA: Do you see the blowing of a shofar to be a problem in the
future as well?

Zayyad: Yes. There was international intervention (to prohibit
shofar blowing). My comment to you was that the committee determined
that the wall was part of the mosque and was thus Wakf property.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-548-0092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il