Shaikh Sabri Warns Israeli Break-Ins at Al-Aqsa Mosque Intended for Dividing it, Hamas Calls on Arabs, Muslims for Rescue

Sabri: Israeli break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque intended for dividing it

[ 27/09/2009 - 11:13 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Shaikh Ekrema Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warned Saturday that the repeated attempts by extremist Israeli settlers to storm the holy Mosque is aimed to sense the reaction of the Palestinian people before implementing plans to divide it as they had done with the Ibrahimi Mosque.

Shaikh Sabri added that any attempt to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque would be a great tragedy, calling on all Palestinians to cooperate in the protection of the Mosque as part of their religious duty towards it.

For his part, MP Ahmed Abu Halabia, who is in charge of the file of occupied Jerusalem in the Palestinian legislative council (PLC), said that the Israeli announced intents to desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque are aimed at obliterating the Arab and Islamic landmarks in the holy city.

In a statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC), MP Abu Halabia urged the Palestinian people especially the people of Jerusalem to frequent the Mosque and perform prayers in its courtyards to repel any attempts by Israeli settlers and policemen to storm the Mosque.

He also appealed to the Palestinian resistance factions to resume its operations against the Israeli occupation in retaliation to its crimes against the Palestinian people and their holy places in Jerusalem.

The lawmaker stressed the need to afford legal experts and lawyers to file lawsuits against Israel for committing war crimes inside Jerusalem and use the media to expose the Israeli abusive practices against Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He noted that the holy city of Jerusalem needs half a billion dollars in order to be able to face Israeli Judaization schemes especially the ongoing excavations, and demolition and confiscation of homes.

In the same context, Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abu Al-Gheit strongly denounced, during his participation in the annual meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the organization of the Islamic conference held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s session, the Israeli violations committed against Jerusalem.

Gheit also expressed hope that the US administration headed by president Barack Obama would be able to fulfill its pledges regarding the restoration of the Palestinian legitimate rights especially the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas: Arabs, Muslims should act to rescue Al-Aqsa

[ 27/09/2009 - 12:24 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, urged Arabs and Muslims to urgently act to save the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem from repeated Zionist attempts to desecrate and control it.

Hamas's spokesman in northern Gaza Abdul Latif Al-Qanu said in a press statement on Sunday that the Arab and Muslim masses and all Muslim scholars should swiftly move to protect the holy site, which is the target of constant Zionist violations, excavations and desecrations.

Qanu said that Arabs and Muslims should assume their responsibilities and duties toward Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He also asked Palestinians in Jerusalem to confront the "Zionist dirty storming attempts" with all means available.

The spokesman warned the "Zionist enemy" of the ramifications of the incessant attempts to storm and to desecrate the holy site, and held it responsible for all consequent events and stands.

Israeli occupation special forces on Sunday stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque to protect Jewish settlers who wished to roam the holy site on the occasion of Yom Kippur but were confronted by Muslim worshippers who refused the step, describing it as a desecration of Islam's third holiest site.

Many Palestinians were wounded when the Israeli occupation forces sprayed them with rubber-coated bullets.

Confrontations at Al-Aqsa Mosque turn violent

[ 27/09/2009 - 12:26 PM ]
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation government police and special Israeli occupation security forces fired rubber-coated bullets and gas canisters in abundance to quell Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque who tried to obstruct a tour of the holy site by tens of Jewish fanatics.

Eyewitnesses reported that large numbers of Israeli policemen escorted 150 Jews but were confronted by the Palestinians.

Sources told the PIC that the clashes were witnessing ups and downs during the day as the Israeli occupation government ordered closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque before worshipers less than 50 years old after many of them headed to the Mosque to defend it.

The witnesses said that 15 Palestinians were wounded with Israeli police bullets, and added that Shaikh Abdul Adheem Salhab, the head of the Awkaf council in Jerusalem was beaten by policemen while entering the Mosque through the Asbat Gate.

Dozens injured, eight arrested in Al-Aqsa clashes

Published today (updated) 27/09/2009 13:37

Jerusalem – Ma’an –

At least 26 people were injured and eight arrested as fierce clashes broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday.

Three of the 17 wounded Palestinians sustained serious eye and head injuries, sources said.

Israeli occupation government police said nine officers were also hurt.

Clashes erupted after groups of Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday morning, reportedly under the guard of Israeli police. Palestinians threw stones, chairs, and shoes at the Israelis, while police injured 17 Palestinians during attempts to forcefully disperse them with batons and stun grenades.

On Thursday, the Al-Aqsa Foundation warned that Israeli police were planning to permit settlers entrance to the area. Officials in East Jerusalem predicted that the break-in would occur on Sunday under the pretext of marking Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement.

Fierce clashes erupted outside the compound near Majlis Gate, one of the main entrances to the mosque, after police prevented Palestinian worshippers from entering the area, according to witnesses.

Hundreds of Jerusalemites and Palestinians living inside Israel hurried to the Mosque compound when word of the clashes spread, but Israeli police closed all entrances in what they said was an effort to contain the fighting. Demonstrators gathered outside the main gates, chanting and denouncing the occupation and alleged assaults against holy places and residents in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Israeli police prevented Islamic notables such as Shaikh Ekrima Sabri, chief of the Islamic Supreme Committee and grand mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, from accessing Al-Aqsa.

Also denied access was Hatim Abdul Qader, former PA minister of Jerusalem affairs and current Fat'h representative on Jerusalem. Israeli police produced an order preventing Abdul-Qadir from accessing Al-Aqsa until further notice, under the pretext that he urged demonstrators to gather at the compound to counter settler groups attempting to break into the mosque area.

Al-Aqsa sits atop of the third holiest Islamic shrine, known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Israeli occupation army handed nominal control of the area to the Waqf in 1967, but the Mosque has periodically come under attack by extremists since then. The most notable assault was in 1969, when a Christian Zionist from Australia set it ablaze in an attempt to herald the second coming of Christ.

Muslims believe it was the location where the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during his Night Journey, Al-Aqsa is also the third holiest site in Islam. The compound, with the golden Dome of the Rock, is moreover a focal point of Palestinian national pride.

Hamas calls for new uprising in response to Al-Aqsa clashes

Published today 13:50 Gaza – Ma’an –

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, urged Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel to take to the streets and begin a new uprising against the Israeli occupation government in reaction to clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Sunday.

In his call for protests, senior Hamas leader Muhammad Abu Askar in Gaza also called on Arabs and Muslims throughout the world to take action to defend Al-Aasa Mosque.

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said the Israeli “attack” on Al-Aqsa Mosque was an attempt to escalate the situation. “The Israeli occupation (government) is not interested in calm,” he said holding Israel accountable for the repercussions of this escalation.

For his part, Islamic Jihad leader Khalid Al-Batsh said, “The Israeli assault is part of a central Israeli decision to escalate in the whole region. This escalation might reach neighboring Arab countries.”

Al-Batsh also called on the Palestinian Authority to suspend all contact with the Israeli government in protest. He also called upon Arab and Islamic countries to stick to their responsibilities in defending Al-Aqsa. Furthermore, he called Palestinian rivals to close ranks and end the current state of political infighting.

The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) called on the Palestinian people to organize demonstrations supporting Islamic holy sites and emphasizing that resistance is the best option to confront Israeli occupation.

The group said its military wing, “Al-Nasser Salahuddin Brigades would not stay with its hands folded towards atrocities committed by Israeli settlers and Israeli forces.”

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