Safeguarding Al-Aqsa from Judaisation
Al-Aqsa Mosque is not merely a place of worship for Muslims in Palestine. Al-Aqsa is a symbol of faith, civilisation, and identity for Muslims worldwide. It was from this mosque that the Prophet Muhammad began the Isra’ and Mi’raj journey, and it served as the first qibla for Muslims before Allah commanded the shift of the qibla to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Therefore, any threat to Al-Aqsa is essentially a threat to one of the most important symbols in Islamic history.
In recent years, the world has witnessed an increase in actions leading to what is known as the Judaisation of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This process is not merely a political issue or a territorial dispute, but a systematic effort that could alter the historical, religious, and legal identity of one of Islam’s most sacred sites.
Judaisation of Al-Aqsa can be understood as a series of policies and actions aimed at changing the Islamic character of Al-Aqsa and East Jerusalem through political, administrative, security, demographic, cultural, and symbolic approaches. This process manifests in various forms, ranging from restrictions on Muslim worshippers’ access, increased Israeli security control over the Al-Aqsa compound, reduction of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf’s authority, to efforts to normalise the presence of extremist Jewish groups in an area known for centuries as a Muslim holy site.
Equally important in this Judaisation process are various attempts to shift the historical narrative so that Al-Aqsa’s Islamic identity is gradually marginalised and eventually erased. If this process continues unchecked, the world risks witnessing the gradual erasure of the Islamic character that has been attached to Al-Aqsa for centuries.
One of the most serious issues is the threat to the decades-old status quo. Under internationally recognised arrangements, the management of Al-Aqsa Mosque falls under the authority of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf. This status is not merely an administrative matter but part of a mechanism to protect the sanctity of Al-Aqsa. Therefore, any attempt to reduce or replace the role of the Jordanian Islamic Waqf must be seen as an action that threatens regional stability and undermines the international agreements that have formed the basis for managing the holy site.
Unilateral changes to the status of Al-Aqsa are not just a problem for Palestine or Jordan. It is a global issue because it concerns respect for international law and the protection of religious sites that are part of humanity’s heritage.
The Judaisation of Al-Aqsa has impacts that extend far beyond Palestine. Firstly, these actions could erase over 14 centuries of historical identity and Islamic heritage. Secondly, they could trigger wider tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. Al-Aqsa holds a highly sensitive position for Muslims around the world, and any violation of its sanctity could spark political and social upheaval that is difficult to control.
Thirdly, the world would face a dangerous precedent if a state can unilaterally alter the status of a holy site protected by international law. If this is allowed, the protection of other religious sites in various parts of the world will also be threatened. Fourthly, such actions will further worsen the crisis of trust in the international legal system, which is supposed to guarantee the protection of holy places and the rights of communities living under occupation.
Indonesia has a moral, constitutional, and historical responsibility to continue defending Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution explicitly states that colonialism must be abolished from the world as it is incompatible with humanity and justice. Therefore, the Indonesian government needs to enhance its international diplomacy more actively and measurably. Indonesia must continue to garner support at the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Non-Aligned Movement, and various other international forums to ensure the protection of Al-Aqsa and respect for the rights of the Palestinian people. Indonesia also needs to strengthen cooperation with Palestine and Jordan in efforts to maintain the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The time has come for the OIC to move beyond mere statements and condemnations. The Islamic world needs more concrete, measurable, and sustainable steps. The OIC needs to establish a permanent international mechanism tasked with monitoring violations against Al-Aqsa, compiling comprehensive legal documentation, strengthening advocacy in international institutions, and consolidating the political and diplomatic strength of member states to exert effective pressure on Israel. Unity in the Islamic world is crucial because the challenges facing Al-Aqsa are no longer local but have become a global issue concerning the dignity of Muslims as a whole.
The struggle to save Al-Aqsa must not be solely the agenda of Muslims. Al-Aqsa must be positioned as part of a global struggle to uphold religious freedom, protect holy sites, and respect international law. Therefore, cross-faith international solidarity must be built, involving figures from Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religious communities, as well as cross-civilisational forces that uphold justice and peace.