AFEH RAISES ALARM BELLS OVER IOA EXCAVATIONS UNDER AL-AQSA

Al-Quds (Yerusalem), 6 Rajab 1435/5 May 2014 (MINA) – The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) warned of the ongoing excavations carried out by Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) under and around the Aqsa Mosque, particularly on the southeastern corner, amid calls by Europeans for Jerusalem group to save al-Aqsa.

The Aqsa Foundation documented in a statement on Sunday following a filed visit that IOA’s excavations have reached deep layers, estimated at 60 meters.

Dozen gigantic stones, serving as the basis for the western wall, were unearthed in the process, Palestine Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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The excavations, initiated from the southwest corner, were found to be heading toward the north, down to al-Magharba Gate and the Buraq wall, AFEH quoted Israel Today newspaper as saying on Friday.

The Foundation spoke against the perilous risks of such procedures which penetrated into more than five meters down of al-Aqsa Mosque.

For his part, Europeans for Jerusalem chairman Yahya Abed called on the Islamic Cooperation Organization and Jerusalem’s Committee, chaired by Morocco’s king Mohammed VI, to protect holy al-Aqsa Mosque against the “ferocious settler attacks targeting the historically sacred character of this holy site.”

Abed said in a statement to Quds Press, following his participation in the 12th Palestinians in Europe Conference on Saturday, that Europeans for Jerusalem is a coalition made up of dozens of civil institutions operating across the European continent with the aim of inculcating the Islamic and Arab character within youth in Europe and spreading awareness among them as to Jerusalem’s importance.

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“The group aims at drawing Europeans’ and Westerners’ attention to the fact that Jerusalem is, for a quarter of the world’s population, a red line that cannot be crossed by any means and under any circumstances. This lies at the very heart of an entire nation’s main concerns,” says Abed. (T/P02/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)