Israeli Occupation Government Closes Al-Ibrahimi Mosque for Muslims, in Response to Demands of its Settlers

IOG to close Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims next month

[ 27/08/2010 - 05:16 PM ]

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation government announced that Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the Palestinian city of Al-Khalil (Hebron) will be exclusively open around the clock for ten days to Jews on the occasion of the Jewish new year, which will start on 18th (of September).

Israeli radio said that this measure was taken based on a request by the illegal Israeli Jewish settlers of Keryat Arba' in al-Khalil.

This announcement coincides with the 17th anniversary of the Ibrahimi mosque massacre which took place on the 5th of Ramadan 1415 AH [25 February 1994], when Baruch Goldstein, an extremist American Jew, committed a massacre at the Mosque during dawn prayers, using hand grenades and a machinegun killing 29 worshipers and wounding 150 others.

This decision contradicts recommendations made by the Shamgar commission of inquiry into the massacre, which stipulated that the mosque will be closed before Muslim worshippers for ten days a year in total.

Muslims have very restricted access to the mosque and they are searched before entering the Mosque.

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