ISRAELI EXSTREIMISTS STORM AL AQSA
Al Quds, 20 Muharam 1435 / 24 November 2013 ( MINA ) – Dozens of extremist Zionist settlers have desecrated the al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), which is the third holiest site in Islam, when they stormed the mosque through Bab el-Magharbeh on Sunday.
Reports say the settlers were led by the extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick who heads the so-called Temple Mount Heritage Foundation.
The latest incident came after a similar event on October 15, when a number of Israeli occupation settlers stormed the mosque under the occupation army protection, Press TV reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Zionist plan to build a synagogue in al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Meanwhile, a report published by the al-Aqsa Foundation in October, said the Israeli occupation regime is planning to build a synagogue in al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of its efforts to further Judaize the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the report, which was based on the information leaked from the Israeli Knesset, the plan would divide the compound, taking one-fifth for the Jews in order for them to perform their religious rituals there.
On October 19, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh condemned Israel’s efforts to judaize al-Quds and the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Haniyeh also slammed Israel’s expansionist policies and the regime’s crimes against the Palestinian nation, saying the liberation of Palestine is a national duty.
He called on all Palestinians to act against the expansionist measures of the Tel Aviv regime across the occupied territories, particularly in al-Quds.
Over the past decades, Israel has tried to change demographic makeup of al-Quds by constructing illegal settlements, destroying historical sites, and expelling the local Palestinian population.
Over half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. The international community considers the settlements illegal.
On Tuesday November 19, a big numbers of Jewish settlers also broke into the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and roamed its various courtyards.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) said in a press release that 166 settlers stormed the holy site via Maghareba gate in groups and organized tours in the company of Jewish rabbis who explained history of the alleged temple.
AFEH pointed out that the Israeli police allow Jewish settlers to roam the Aqsa plazas while blocking entry of Muslim scholars who wish to study Quran in religious lessons inside the Mosque.
The foundation noted that Jewish groups organize weekly visits to the Aqsa Mosque in line with a program that aim at providing explanation on the site as a “holy Jewish site” and refer to its Islamic landmarks as part of the remains of the alleged temple.
The foundation warned that the Israeli occupation authorities were escalating the storming of the Aqsa Mosque on daily basis in an attempt to turn those “visits” into daily, normal routine.
A group of 80 Israeli occupation soldiers stormed this morning with their military uniform al-Aqsa mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage confirmed.
The Foundation added that 9 Jewish settlers broke in two groups into al-Aqsa mosque under military security, meanwhile 60 Jewish students stormed into Haram al-Sharif.
Palestinian students and worshipers came in large numbers to the mosque since the early morning hours in order to address Israeli occupationbreak-ins.
The Foundation renewed its call to intensify Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa mosque and to protect it from Israeli daily and escalated attacks. (T/P04/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
