30 dec 2016
PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, on Thursday, expressed concerns regarding the statement of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, who recently praised Israel for being a “democracy” that “respects freedom of worship.”
In an official statement, Ashrawi said that “Theophilos III is very well informed of the Israeli violations of the freedom to worship, [with regard to] his own community during Easter, and is also aware [that] the occupation of the Saint John Convent, near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, today, turned into another illegal Israeli settlement.”
“Theophilos III is also well aware of the impact of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, [of] the Palestinian people in general, and [of] the Christian population, in particular. His statement could only be delivered by someone who aims at distorting reality by disregarding the rights and aspirations of his own congregation.”
“Additionally, this statement contradicts all international reports on the situation of freedom of worship under Israeli occupation, and, in particular, in and around occupied East Jerusalem,” Ashrawi added.
“We are eager to know if Patriarch Theophilos did anything in order to defend the lands that members of his own congregation recently lost in Cremisan, or the fact that thousands of Palestinian Christians cannot access their own holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, due to Israel’s illegal annexation wall and other movement restrictions.
Undoubtedly, Patriarch Theophilos knows very well the situation of thousands of Palestinian families, including hundreds of Christian families that have been divided due to racist Israeli citizenship laws.
Churches and religious leaders have historically provided a voice for justice and peace. The Kairos Document, signed by Palestinian theologians and religious leaders from all congregations, has clearly stated that religious liberty is severely restricted; the freedom of access to the holy places is denied under the pretext of security. Jerusalem and its holy places are out of bounds for many Christians and Muslims from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Even Jerusalemites face restrictions during the religious feasts. Some of our Arab clergy are regularly barred from entering Jerusalem.”
Finally, Ashrawi called upon Patriarch Theophilos III to work for justice and peace of the oppressed, rather than covering up the daily violations of the oppressors.
In an official statement, Ashrawi said that “Theophilos III is very well informed of the Israeli violations of the freedom to worship, [with regard to] his own community during Easter, and is also aware [that] the occupation of the Saint John Convent, near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, today, turned into another illegal Israeli settlement.”
“Theophilos III is also well aware of the impact of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, [of] the Palestinian people in general, and [of] the Christian population, in particular. His statement could only be delivered by someone who aims at distorting reality by disregarding the rights and aspirations of his own congregation.”
“Additionally, this statement contradicts all international reports on the situation of freedom of worship under Israeli occupation, and, in particular, in and around occupied East Jerusalem,” Ashrawi added.
“We are eager to know if Patriarch Theophilos did anything in order to defend the lands that members of his own congregation recently lost in Cremisan, or the fact that thousands of Palestinian Christians cannot access their own holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, due to Israel’s illegal annexation wall and other movement restrictions.
Undoubtedly, Patriarch Theophilos knows very well the situation of thousands of Palestinian families, including hundreds of Christian families that have been divided due to racist Israeli citizenship laws.
Churches and religious leaders have historically provided a voice for justice and peace. The Kairos Document, signed by Palestinian theologians and religious leaders from all congregations, has clearly stated that religious liberty is severely restricted; the freedom of access to the holy places is denied under the pretext of security. Jerusalem and its holy places are out of bounds for many Christians and Muslims from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Even Jerusalemites face restrictions during the religious feasts. Some of our Arab clergy are regularly barred from entering Jerusalem.”
Finally, Ashrawi called upon Patriarch Theophilos III to work for justice and peace of the oppressed, rather than covering up the daily violations of the oppressors.
The Jordanian government has strongly denounced its Israeli counterpart for persistently allowing Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque’s Islamic sanctity every day and hurting the Muslim nation’s feelings.
“The Jordanian government holds the Israeli government, as the occupying power, responsible for any action happening against the holy Aqsa Mosque,” spokesman for the government Mohamed al-Momani stated on Thursday.
Momani emphasized that the occurrence of daily break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque by Israelis are illegal and hostile acts against an Islamic holy site and a disregard for the Muslims’ feelings.
He reiterated his government’s position on the need to protect the status quo at the Aqsa Mosque.
The spokesman affirmed that Jordan would continue to assume its role as the guardian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem and employ its diplomatic and legal options to protect them.
“The Jordanian government holds the Israeli government, as the occupying power, responsible for any action happening against the holy Aqsa Mosque,” spokesman for the government Mohamed al-Momani stated on Thursday.
Momani emphasized that the occurrence of daily break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque by Israelis are illegal and hostile acts against an Islamic holy site and a disregard for the Muslims’ feelings.
He reiterated his government’s position on the need to protect the status quo at the Aqsa Mosque.
The spokesman affirmed that Jordan would continue to assume its role as the guardian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem and employ its diplomatic and legal options to protect them.
29 dec 2016
The number of Israeli settlers who stormed al-Aqsa Mosque increased, during the sixth day of Hanukkah on Thursday, to 149 settlers, which brought the total number of settlers entering the holy Islamic site in 2016 to nearly 15,000.
According to Quds Press, 37 settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in the evening period on Thursday under tight protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
The second period today, which started around noon from Maghareba gate, took the settlers in a tour that ended at Bab al-Silsila and thus raised the overall number of settlers today to 149.
112 settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning from Maghareba gate, which is controlled by Israel since 1967, before exiting from Bab al-Silsila under the protection of Israeli police.
The number of Israeli settlers who stormed al-Aqsa Mosque since Hanukkah feast started reached 665 including students and officials.
According to Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department in Jerusalem, the number of settlers who stormed al-Aqsa during 2016 increased to reach 14,806 settlers, without counting the students or Israeli forces.
According to Quds Press, 37 settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in the evening period on Thursday under tight protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
The second period today, which started around noon from Maghareba gate, took the settlers in a tour that ended at Bab al-Silsila and thus raised the overall number of settlers today to 149.
112 settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning from Maghareba gate, which is controlled by Israel since 1967, before exiting from Bab al-Silsila under the protection of Israeli police.
The number of Israeli settlers who stormed al-Aqsa Mosque since Hanukkah feast started reached 665 including students and officials.
According to Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department in Jerusalem, the number of settlers who stormed al-Aqsa during 2016 increased to reach 14,806 settlers, without counting the students or Israeli forces.
Hordes of Israeli settlers on Thursday morning stormed the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghreba Gate.
The break-in was carried out under a tight security shield by special units and rapid intervention troops.
Shortly before the break-in, the occupation cops unlocked the Maghareba Gate and cordoned off the plazas of the Mosque.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen have been banning the access of a number of Muslim women into the al-Aqsa place of worship to perform their prayers, in a flagrant violation of Muslims’ freedom of worship.
Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa—the third holiest site in Islam—have been carried out on a semi-daily basis at around 7 a.m.
The break-in was carried out under a tight security shield by special units and rapid intervention troops.
Shortly before the break-in, the occupation cops unlocked the Maghareba Gate and cordoned off the plazas of the Mosque.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen have been banning the access of a number of Muslim women into the al-Aqsa place of worship to perform their prayers, in a flagrant violation of Muslims’ freedom of worship.
Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa—the third holiest site in Islam—have been carried out on a semi-daily basis at around 7 a.m.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers overnight Wednesday stormed Kafl Haris town in northern Salfit and performed sacrilegious rituals at Islamic sites.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli fanatics, escorted by army troops, broke into three holy sites in Kafl Haris and carried out provocative rituals.
Shortly before the assault, heavily-armed Israeli troops sealed off the main access roads to the area, blocking Palestinians’ movement inside and out.
Buses carrying hundreds of settlers showed up at the scene, in a move that paved the way for preplanned mass-break-ins into the area.
Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories have been the permanent targets of sacrilegious assaults by Israeli fanatics in an attempt to impose a new fait accompli on the ground.
Kafl Haris town is a home to several Islamic shrines and prophets’ tombs.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli fanatics, escorted by army troops, broke into three holy sites in Kafl Haris and carried out provocative rituals.
Shortly before the assault, heavily-armed Israeli troops sealed off the main access roads to the area, blocking Palestinians’ movement inside and out.
Buses carrying hundreds of settlers showed up at the scene, in a move that paved the way for preplanned mass-break-ins into the area.
Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories have been the permanent targets of sacrilegious assaults by Israeli fanatics in an attempt to impose a new fait accompli on the ground.
Kafl Haris town is a home to several Islamic shrines and prophets’ tombs.
28 dec 2016
Extremist Jewish groups advocating the building of their alleged temple have declared intents to stage massive marches to the Aqsa Mosque and light a Talmudic candelabrum in its courtyards during the remaining days of the current Hanukkah holiday.
According to the website of the Temple Trustees group, the marches to the Mosque would be led during the coming days by several right-wing officials, Knesset members and rabbis, including Yehuda Glick, Miki Zohar, Shuli Mualem, Aryeh Eldad and Yisrael Ariel.
Pro-temple groups have been embarking for days on mobilizing the largest possible number of Jewish settlers to participate in mass desecration tours at the Aqsa Mosque during the eight-day holiday, which started last Sunday.
Announcements published by these groups said they received reassurances from the Israeli police about decreasing the number of Palestinians entering the Mosque and allowing more settlers to visit it to mark this occasion.
According to the website of the Temple Trustees group, the marches to the Mosque would be led during the coming days by several right-wing officials, Knesset members and rabbis, including Yehuda Glick, Miki Zohar, Shuli Mualem, Aryeh Eldad and Yisrael Ariel.
Pro-temple groups have been embarking for days on mobilizing the largest possible number of Jewish settlers to participate in mass desecration tours at the Aqsa Mosque during the eight-day holiday, which started last Sunday.
Announcements published by these groups said they received reassurances from the Israeli police about decreasing the number of Palestinians entering the Mosque and allowing more settlers to visit it to mark this occasion.
27 dec 2016
Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in the holy city, has refuted Netanyahu’s claim that al-Buraq Wall, which Jews call Wailing Wall, is not occupied, affirming that this wall “is part of the occupied city of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.”
“Al-Buraq Wall is part of the western wall of the holy Aqsa Mosque and the Muslims can never waive it,” Sheikh Sabri stated in press remarks.
He pointed out that the UN, when it used to be the League of Nations, adopted a resolution in 1930 confirming that the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic mortmain site and the Jews have no right to it.
“Netanyahu’s claim that this wall is not occupied is a false, intransigent and arrogant claim, and the sun cannot be covered with a sieve,” he said.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday during his participation in a religious ceremony at al-Buraq Wall that the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque “is not occupied and the Jewish quarter is not occupied.”
“Al-Buraq Wall is part of the western wall of the holy Aqsa Mosque and the Muslims can never waive it,” Sheikh Sabri stated in press remarks.
He pointed out that the UN, when it used to be the League of Nations, adopted a resolution in 1930 confirming that the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic mortmain site and the Jews have no right to it.
“Netanyahu’s claim that this wall is not occupied is a false, intransigent and arrogant claim, and the sun cannot be covered with a sieve,” he said.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday during his participation in a religious ceremony at al-Buraq Wall that the western wall of the Aqsa Mosque “is not occupied and the Jewish quarter is not occupied.”
A horde of 59 Israeli settlers defiled the plazas of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday via the Maghareba Gate.
Israeli mass break-ins at al-Aqsa have been ongoing for the fourth consecutive day to mark the so-called Festival of Lights (Hanukkah).
The number of Israeli fanatics who forced their way into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque since start of the Hanukkah has hit 321.
Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa are expected to see a hike during the afternoon shift.
At the same time, two Palestinian children were kidnapped by the occupation cops from the plazas of the holy site on allegations that they disturbed the Israeli settlers during the break-in.
Last year, such Israeli break-ins at the al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel’s incessant attempt to impose a spatio-temporal division on the site fanned the flames of an anti-occupation intifada, which started in early October, 2015. 270 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupation army in that period on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation attacks.
Israeli mass break-ins at al-Aqsa have been ongoing for the fourth consecutive day to mark the so-called Festival of Lights (Hanukkah).
The number of Israeli fanatics who forced their way into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque since start of the Hanukkah has hit 321.
Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa are expected to see a hike during the afternoon shift.
At the same time, two Palestinian children were kidnapped by the occupation cops from the plazas of the holy site on allegations that they disturbed the Israeli settlers during the break-in.
Last year, such Israeli break-ins at the al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel’s incessant attempt to impose a spatio-temporal division on the site fanned the flames of an anti-occupation intifada, which started in early October, 2015. 270 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupation army in that period on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation attacks.