ISRAELI HOUSING MINISTER, SETTLERS STORM AL–AQSA
“The Israeli housing minister, accompanied by 27 settlers, stormed the Al-Aqsa compound through the Al-Magharbah Gate as Israeli police looked on,” Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director-general of Muslim endowments and Al-Aqsa affairs, told Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“The minister wandered into the compound from the Al-Magharbah gate, passing through the Al-Qibali and Marwani mosques before leaving from the Al-Selsela Gate,” he added.
In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have stepped up their intrusions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, the world’s third holiest site for Muslims.
The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent confrontations.
Jews refer to the area as the “Temple Mount,” claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
In September 2000, a visit to the site by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon triggered what later became known as the “Second Intifada,” in which thousands of Palestinians were killed and injured.
Israel occupied Al-Quds during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.(T/P02/P04)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
