Saudi Activist Challenges Arab World by Affirming Jewish Historical Ties to Jerusalem

In a bold move amid widespread denial in the Arab and Muslim world about the Jewish historical connection to Jerusalem, Saudi peace activist Louay Al-Sharif has released a powerful educational video from the United Arab Emirates. Al-Sharif, a Saudi-born content creator and Israel supporter, dismantles common myths by explaining the etymology of the Arabic term 'Bayt al-Maqdis' as a direct derivative of the Hebrew 'Beit HaMikdash' (the Holy Temple).

Addressing Arab and Muslim audiences, Al-Sharif urges them to reconsider the origins of the term and recognize its Jewish roots. He highlights that many Muslims use the word 'Maqdis' without realizing it refers to the Jewish Temple. Using a model of the Second Temple, he explains that even prominent Muslims commemorating the Temple's destruction often overlook the historical and linguistic background.

Al-Sharif goes further by recounting the history of ancient Judea, emphasizing the Maccabees' revolt against the Seleucids and the miracle of Hanukkah as integral parts of the region's heritage. Raised in a conservative Saudi environment taught to hate Jews, his personal transformation began after meeting a Jewish family in Paris. Now a prominent advocate for normalization and the Abraham Accords, he asserts that Zionism is the Jewish right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, a stance he claims is supported by the Quran.

He argues that denying the Jewish connection to the land undermines Islamic faith, as Jewish prophets are central to Islamic tradition. Al-Sharif also notes that the Western Wall is the surviving remnant of the ancient destruction in Judea. His clear message is that acknowledging shared historical truths and roots is essential for genuine coexistence and that peace starts with knowledge.