ISRAELI FORCES TO CLOSE IBRAHIMI MOSQUE NEXT WEEK
Hebron (Al-Khalil), 14 Dzulqa’idah 1434/20 September 2013 (MINA) – Israeli forces decided to close the Ibrahimi mosque to Muslim worshipers on Sunday and Monday under the pretext of celebrating the Jewish holiday,” Surroka Holiday”.
the directorate of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in Hebron said in a press release on Thursday , the Israeli soldiers informed the Ibrahimi servants’ chief Hijazi Abu Suneina that they will close all the corridors and courtyards of the Ibrahim Mosque in connection with Surroka, while allowing the Israeli settlers to enter.
It described this measure as “an attack on a religious place and harms the feelings of Muslims.”
Israeli occupation intentionally used to close the Ibrahimi mosque to Muslim worshipers in the Jewish holidays.
The mosque has been divided between Muslims and Jews for decades with each faith occupying a section of the mosque where members perform prayers.
However, Israel sometimes closes the mosque to one faith and opens it only for the other if its members are celebrating a major religious event.
Israeli Army Occupy Four-Storey Building Near Ibrahimi Mosque Due To Jewish Holiday
Israeli army seized Wednesday a four- storey building in the old town of Hebron, prevented its owners from entering it.
Local media reported “the Israeli occupation prevented Issa Abu Maiyalah from entering his home of four floors and 4 shops and located close to the Ibrahimi Mosque,”
Abu Maiyalah said “as I was near my house, Israeli soldiers blocked me to enter the house which turned to be an Israeli military barrack,”
The Israeli army break-in came in the context of Jewish holidays. It marks one in a string of measures carried out during such occasions, purportedly to secure a safe entry of Israeli settlers into Ibrahimi Mosque, a part of which is specified for Jews following Hebron massacre.
He added “the officers told me that there is a decision to occupy my house as from 17 to 24 of September,”
The Israeli government divided Ibrahimi Mosque in two after shooting spree committed by Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein on the 15th of the Holy Month of Ramadan 1414 (February 1994) left 29 Palestinian Muslims dead and scores injured. The popular rage in the streets and the stand-off with the Israeli occupation army resulted in a further 35 deaths.
The Israeli authorities also set up lots of checkpoints on the ways leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque in order to impose a de facto for Palestinians so that the holy site would not be visited by them. (T/P02/P04)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
