14.952 ISRAELIS BROKE INTO AL-AQSA MOSQUE IN 2014

**Around 14,952 Israelis, including settlers, police, ministers and members of Knesset stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the year 2014.**(Photo: Al Ray)

Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem), 11 Rabu’ul Awwal 1436/ 2 January 2015 (MINA) – Al-Aqsa Association for the Waqf and Heritage said that around 14,952 Israelis, including settlers, police, ministers and members of Knesset stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the year 2014.

The association reported in a statistical report prepared with the help of witnesses staying daily in Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, the 14,952 included 12,569 settlers, 1,102 intelligence members, 1,084 soldiers in military uniform, and 197 public figures, including ministers, deputy ministers and members of the Knesset; an average of 1246 Israelis per month over all and 1047 settlers in specific, Wafa News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The previous numbers illustrate an increase by 12.7% of Israelis from 2013 in general and 39% of settlers in specific. A total of 13,268 Israelis were reported to have broken into Al-Aqsa Compound, 9050 of which are settlers.

The highest number of incursions was reported in June (2134), followed by September (1615) and October (1600).

Al-Aqsa Association mentioned a number of figures who broke into Al-Aqsa compound in 2014 including, Minister of Settlement and Housing Uri Ariel, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Moshe Feiglin, Secretary of Homeland Security Yitzhak Aharonovich, Deputy Minister of Transportation Tzipi Hotovely, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, Jewish Home’s member of the Knesset Shuli Mualem, and Likud Rabbi Yehuda Glick, and head of Jerusalem municipality, Nir Barkat.

The association attributed the rise these raids to support by political figures, such as head of the Interior Committee in the Knesset Mary Rigab, in addition to the increasing number of religious edicts that allowed Jews to break into the Al-Aqsa, after they used to prohibit it.

In addition, the arrest and prosecution of the Muslim worshipers and setting many age restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Compound during week days were some of the ways to empty the holy site.(T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)