“The Quran clearly declares that Eretz Israel belongs to the Jews,” a leading member of Pakistan’s National Assembly Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani told the camera. “The house of God was built for the children of Israel and not for the Palestinians.”

This dramatic declaration was released by the spiritual leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (Community of Islamic Clerics) last Shabbat in Pakistan. The person who alerted me to the turn of events in Pakistan was Noor Dahri, a Pakistani living in the United Kingdom and founder and executive director of Islamic Counterterrorism Theology (ITCT). A few hours after Dahri tweeted Sherani’s statement, we spoke on the phone.

(Breaking News from Pakistan)

Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani a prominent religious figure, a Central Leader of JUI-F @juipakofficial and Ex Chairman Pakistan Ideology Council says he supports Israel’s recognition. He says in Pashto, Israel’s recognition is international issue. pic.twitter.com/dDNNfVinwz

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