Israeli occupation government cabinet member, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, makes a provocative visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

Israeli minister makes 'provocative' Al-Aqsa visit

Date: 23 / 06 / 2009 Time: 12:40
Jerusalem – Ma’an –

The Israeli occupation government Internal Security Minister (cabinet member) Yitzhak Aharonovitch visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City under heavy guard on Tuesday morning in what Palestinian officials condemned as a provocation.

Aharonovitch, a member of the ultra-right-wing Israel Beitenu Party, toured the compound accompanied by Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen and Jerusalem District Police Chief Aharon Franco.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and also a major symbol of Palestinian nationalism. A visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2000 sparked the Second Palestinian Uprising, Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Israeli officials entered the compound at 8:20am surrounded by security guards. They walked to the eastern wall of the Mosque. Then, they stopped to listen to a report about the situation at the holy site.

Aharonovitch and his delegation then moved to the Dome of the Rock, where the Islamic Waqf is currently performing maintenance work. Recently some of the maintenance work was ordered to stop by the Israeli police.

Al-Aqsa Foundation for Heritage said in a statement that the Israeli minister (government cabinet member) also barged into the Marwani Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and circled the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The organization said, “This visit shows that the Israeli institutions are targeting Al-Aqsa.” The statement also asked, “is this incursion a provocation only or is there something else behind the visit?”

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