Haniyah Appeals for Arab, Muslim Support for Al-Aqsa Mosque Against Israeli Violations

Haniyah appeals for Arab, Muslim support for Al-Aqsa

Published yesterday (updated) 26/10/2009 10:26

Gaza – Ma’an –

De facto Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah called several Arab and Muslim leaders around the world on Sunday to enlist their support in ending Israeli intrusions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

The Hamas leader asked Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, for an emergency meeting of the organization to discuss these “attacks.”

Haniyah also called Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, calling on him to take practical steps to protect Al-Aqsa.

The Gaza-based prime minister also spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa, and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faysal.

Also in Gaza, Hamas staged mass demonstrations against an Israeli police raid on Al-Aqsa that took place earlier on Sunday.

Speaking at one such rally, senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan issued a similar call to Haniyah’s urging Arab states to “defend Al-Aqsa,” while demonstrators chanted slogans calling for “resistance” in defense of the holy site.

Khudari: The Aqsa Mosque break-ins are an Israeli systematic policy

[ 26/10/2009 - 05:04 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, stated Monday that the repeated Israeli break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque are not only attempts by extremist Jewish groups or individuals, but they represent a systematic policy pursued by the successive Israeli governments.

In a press release, Khudari underlined that this dangerous policy entails concerted efforts by Arab and Muslim governments, institutions and peoples to help the Palestinian people face the Zionist dangers threatening the occupied city of Jerusalem.

He appealed to the Arab and Muslim officials to work on supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people against the dangers that threaten the future of their existence in Jerusalem.

In the same context, Palestinian factions on Monday appealed to the UN Security Council to issue a resolution stopping the Israeli violations against the Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem.

The factions also called during a rally organized in solidarity with the Aqsa Mosque in Gaza for forming a popular campaign to confront the Israeli attacks.

They urged the organization of the Islamic conference to assume its responsibilities and intervene to stop the Israeli violations in the holy city.

During the rally, senior Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batesh said that the Arab and Muslim countries are demanded to close Israel’s embassies and offices in their capitals as part of their duty to protect the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.