Alerts

Saudi Blogger Attacked on the Temple Mount for Visiting Israel

Waqf guards failed to protect Mohammad Saud who was denied access to al Aqsa
Share this
Saudi blogger ducking from objects thrown at him
Saudi blogger ducking from objects thrown at him in Jerusalem’s Old City after being turned away from al Aqsa. (Screenshot)

Table of Contents

Saudi blogger ducking from objects thrown at him in Jerusalem’s Old City after being turned away from al Aqsa. (Screenshot)

Arab movement toward peace with Israel sometimes takes a step forward and then another backward. In an unprecedented advancement, a delegation of six journalists and bloggers from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan visited Israel at the invitation of the Israeli foreign ministry and did the two-step peace dance.

The group is visiting Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Nazareth and meeting with Israeli academics and officials. Videos of the hostile reception on the Temple Mount (Haram el-Sharif) of one Saudi journalist, Mohammad Saud, have now gone viral.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called on Arab journalists and media to blacklist the group. The syndicate denounced the visit as “part of a political effort in the context of Zionist-American schemes to liquidate the Palestinian cause.”

Who Failed to Protect the Muslim Visitor?

Israel’s police are responsible for public safety on the Temple Mount; it does not keep order inside Muslim holy site. The Arab Waqf, comprised of Jordanian and Palestinian representatives, provides its own guards to keep order in the holy sites and to prevent Jewish prayers on the holy plateau.

In the case of Mohammad Saud, however, the Waqf guards were not only present, but they openly ignored the attacks, spitting, and curses hurled at the Muslim visitor. The screenshots show Waqf guards in their blue shirts observing – often taking pictures – as Saud ran the gauntlet, a fact so far unreported by the general media.

Waqf guards

Blogger Mohammad Saud makes no secret of his support for Israel and desire for peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and he is very public about it on his Twitter account, https://twitter.com/mohsaud08.

Blogger Mohammad Saud

Beyond Palestinians’ animosity for the young Hebrew-speaking Saudi blogger, an inter-Arab skirmish may be playing out between Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well. Jordan, responsible for the Waqf authority, is recognized as the “custodian of holy sites” in Jerusalem, while Saudi Arabia is seen as the “custodian of the two holy mosques” in Mecca and Medina. According to one analyst, “Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries perceive the Al-Aqsa mosque as a rival to the holy city of Mecca.”1 The century-old rivalries between the Hashemite and the Saudi tribes over the sites have never totally been resolved.

* * *

Note

The Jerusalem Center

The Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs is a leading foreign policy research, public diplomacy, and communications center that partners with Arab and Muslim majority counterparts and countries to fashion a more secure and prosperous Middle East.
Share this

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.







Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close