EXTREMIST ISRAELI HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION MINISTER BREAKS INTO AL-AQSA

        Al-Quds (Jerussalem), 6 Dzulqai’dah 1434/12 September 2013 (MINA) – A group of extremist Israeli settlers headed by Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel broke into the sanctuary yards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning.

        Witnesses said that about 45 settlers accompanied the minister when he broke into the yards of the Mosque under heavy military protection from the Israeli police, according to Middle East Minotor (MEMO) report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

        In a statement, Wadi Al-Hilwa Information Centre said that they got into the Mosque through Al-Magharbeh Gate and made a complete tour in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque which lasted for 45 minutes and left through Al-Silsileh Gate. They wandered through the Yards and some of them performed Talmudic rituals.

        Placed under heavy security measures, the statement said, Palestinian worshipers could do nothing except chant Allahu Akbar (God is Great).

        Jewish organisations gathering under the name of “The Coalition for the Temple” have also distributed ads calling for settlers to storm the Mosque next Saturday. They called upon the police to allow them entry to the Mosque to celebrate the Yom Kippur holiday.

        Israeli police spokesman Yohanna Danino has announced that Israeli police have agreed to give permission for Jews to enter into the Mosque on Saturday, considering it a part of the so-called “Jewish Temple”. He said, “That is an undisputed right for Jews.”

       The tours, which have intensified recently, aim at creating new facts on the ground and at pushing the Israeli government to allow Jews to hold prayers inside the Muslim holy compound as a prelude to building their third temple on the location after destroying al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

       Muslim officials are concerned that a planned mass tour by Jewish extremist of the compound on Thursday, the eve of the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday, may provoke clashes with Muslim worshippers.

        Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Awqaf in Gaza Ismail Redwan condemned the Israeli “desecration” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. “This proves that the Israelis are not serious in peace talks with the Palestinians,” he declared.

        He also called for the Arab, Islamic and international official bodies to take action to protect the third holiest place for the world’s two billion Muslims. (T/P02/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)