Jerusalem, 29 Rabiul Awwal 1438/29 December 2016 (MINA) – The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein warned in statement Wednesday that Israeli authorities were going “too far” with excavation and construction activities in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, saying that the digging endangered the lives and properties of Jerusalemites.
Hussein added that Israel was violating international law regarding the state’s responsibility towards civilians in the territory it militarily occupies, and he called upon international organizations to intervene to stop the measures “before it’s too late.”
He also denounced Israel for imposing the vacation schedule of Jewish schools on Palestinian schools in Jerusalem, saying that the policy aimed to “Judaize” the educational system in Jerusalem.
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Hussein also said that renaming streets and quarters in the Old City with Hebrew names was an attempt to eliminate the Palestinian and Muslim identity in Jerusalem.
He demanded the international society to intervene and stop Israeli aggression against Palestinian people and Muslim holy places.
Palestinian communities in occupied East Jerusalem — within the municipal boundaries and also beyond the wall in the occupied West Bank — have long been targeted by Israeli authorities in what has been denounced as a policy of “Judaization” of the holy city at the expense of other religious communities.
This “Judaization” has also been characterized by the continuous expansion of illegal Jewish-only settlements and a large-scale policy of demolition of Palestinian homes. (T/RS05/RS01)
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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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