A GROUP OF SETTLERS STORM AL-AQSA MOSQUE

Al-Quds (Jerusalem), 5 Safar 1436/28 November 2014 (MINA) – A group of settlers stormed Thursday morning al-Aqsa Mosque and roamed its plazas amid Israeli attempts to outlaw Muslims’ presence in the holy site.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that 22 settlers stormed, in two groups, the Mosque from the Magaribeh gate under Israeli police protection, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Palestinian worshipers started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ break-in into the holy shrine and prevented their access to the Dome of the Rock.

In light of the Israeli mounting violations in the holy place, Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage warned against the Israeli attempts to legitimize targeting Palestinian worshipers in al-Aqsa Mosque under the pretext of “fight against riots”.

In its statement issued on Wednesday, the foundation warned of Israeli security minister’s intention to submit a bill with the Knesset that would outlaw Muslim ‘guards’ at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The statement slammed the bill that considered Palestinian worshipers who are daily stationed in al-Aqsa Mosque as terrorists, calling for their arrest and persecution.

The bill mainly aims to outlaw Muslims’ presence in the Mosque in order to pave the way before settlers’ break-ins into the Islamic shrine, the foundation said.

The guards targeted by the bill are men and women stationed near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the report claims. The Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam. The guards are called “Mourabitoun” in Arabic – a term which is used to describe those who protect Muslim holy sites.

Violent clashes in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque have intensified over the past months. Early in October, violence erupted between Palestinians and the occupation police after Israeli authorities placed restrictions on Al-Aqsa, only allowing Palestinians over the age of 50 to enter the site.(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)