23 nov 2015
Israeli police decided to limit the number of settlers who storm the Aqsa Mosque in order to contain Palestinians’ outrage and also in an attempt to legitimize dividing the Muslims’ holy site.
The Translation and Monitoring Department at the PIC quoted the Israeli Channel Seven as saying that Israeli police will allow 45 settlers to visit the Aqsa Mosque in the morning and 15 settlers in the evening starting from Monday.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claims that the purpose of this move is to reduce the confrontation with Palestinians.
However, Palestinians opined that it indicates the Israeli failure to protect settlers in light of Jerusalem Intifada.
The Translation and Monitoring Department at the PIC quoted the Israeli Channel Seven as saying that Israeli police will allow 45 settlers to visit the Aqsa Mosque in the morning and 15 settlers in the evening starting from Monday.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claims that the purpose of this move is to reduce the confrontation with Palestinians.
However, Palestinians opined that it indicates the Israeli failure to protect settlers in light of Jerusalem Intifada.
Israeli minister of education Naftali Bennett has issued an order banning the activities of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands at all Israeli academic institutions.
In a verdict circulated to heads of Israeli universities on Friday, Bennett demanded them to immediately prevent any activity held within Israeli academia by students affiliated with the Islamic Movement, which the Israeli government last week declared to be illegal.
"We have taken the Islamic Movement out of the realm of legality, and now it is clear that there is no place for it in academic institutions in Israel."
"I expect all academic leaders to take responsibility, to understand the dangers involved and to cooperate with the government," the Israeli minister said in his decision.
In a verdict circulated to heads of Israeli universities on Friday, Bennett demanded them to immediately prevent any activity held within Israeli academia by students affiliated with the Islamic Movement, which the Israeli government last week declared to be illegal.
"We have taken the Islamic Movement out of the realm of legality, and now it is clear that there is no place for it in academic institutions in Israel."
"I expect all academic leaders to take responsibility, to understand the dangers involved and to cooperate with the government," the Israeli minister said in his decision.
22 nov 2015
Groups of Jewish settlers on Sunday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards under tight police protection.
The settlers' unwelcome presence at the Islamic holy shrine provoked the Muslim worshipers there into expressing their protest by chanting religious slogans.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen outside the Aqsa Mosque compound arrested a Palestinian young man and took him in for interrogation.
The Israeli police also restricted the entry of young men and women to the Mosque and confiscated their IDs before allowing them in.
Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of the Aqsa Mosque, said that a Jewish extremist tried to perform Talmudic rituals near al-Marwani prayer hall before Israeli policemen intervened and escorted him out of the compound.
Sheikh Kiswani added that some settlers described the Mosque as a temple mount and threatened to intensify their desecration of the Islamic holy shrine.
The settlers' unwelcome presence at the Islamic holy shrine provoked the Muslim worshipers there into expressing their protest by chanting religious slogans.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen outside the Aqsa Mosque compound arrested a Palestinian young man and took him in for interrogation.
The Israeli police also restricted the entry of young men and women to the Mosque and confiscated their IDs before allowing them in.
Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of the Aqsa Mosque, said that a Jewish extremist tried to perform Talmudic rituals near al-Marwani prayer hall before Israeli policemen intervened and escorted him out of the compound.
Sheikh Kiswani added that some settlers described the Mosque as a temple mount and threatened to intensify their desecration of the Islamic holy shrine.
20 nov 2015
Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Ikrema Sabri has called for restoring the keys of the Israeli-controlled al-Magaribeh Gate.
During the Friday prayers khutba (sermon), Sheikh Sabri stressed the need for removing the Israeli occupation and restoring the keys of al-Magaribeh Gate that are still in the hands of Israeli authorities since 1967.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is still subjected to daily Israeli attacks and break-ins, he said.
He also called for putting an end to Israeli continued and escalated attacks on al-Aqsa, and for dealing with the causes which led to the ongoing tensions in occupied Jerusalem and all the Palestinian territories.
He also stressed the urgent need for intensifying the Palestinian presence at the Mosque.
On the other hand, Sheikh Sabri described the Israeli decision to outlaw the Islamic Movement as a racist and arbitrary decision.
Such a decision raises concerns over democracy and freedom of worship in Israel, he said.
He also denounced the Israeli recent war crimes of arresting injured youths from hospitals.
During the Friday prayers khutba (sermon), Sheikh Sabri stressed the need for removing the Israeli occupation and restoring the keys of al-Magaribeh Gate that are still in the hands of Israeli authorities since 1967.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is still subjected to daily Israeli attacks and break-ins, he said.
He also called for putting an end to Israeli continued and escalated attacks on al-Aqsa, and for dealing with the causes which led to the ongoing tensions in occupied Jerusalem and all the Palestinian territories.
He also stressed the urgent need for intensifying the Palestinian presence at the Mosque.
On the other hand, Sheikh Sabri described the Israeli decision to outlaw the Islamic Movement as a racist and arbitrary decision.
Such a decision raises concerns over democracy and freedom of worship in Israel, he said.
He also denounced the Israeli recent war crimes of arresting injured youths from hospitals.
19 nov 2015
Israeli extremist settlers on Thursday morning broke into the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem, under heavy police escort. Palestinian women were barred from entry.
According to Quds Press, 23 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate. Israeli Police Special Forces secured settlers during their rounds.
Meanwhile, Palestinian women got gathered at al-Silsilah and Hutta gates in protest against barring them from accessing the Mosque for the pretext of being blacklisted by Israeli police.
Palestinians intensified their presence at the Aqsa Mosque in the early morning hours for attending Quranic lessons and for the confrontation of settlers’ ceaseless incursions into the Muslims’ holy site.
According to Quds Press, 23 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate. Israeli Police Special Forces secured settlers during their rounds.
Meanwhile, Palestinian women got gathered at al-Silsilah and Hutta gates in protest against barring them from accessing the Mosque for the pretext of being blacklisted by Israeli police.
Palestinians intensified their presence at the Aqsa Mosque in the early morning hours for attending Quranic lessons and for the confrontation of settlers’ ceaseless incursions into the Muslims’ holy site.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israeli (ACRI) has considered Wednesday the Israeli government’s decision to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement “an illegal measure.”
The extremist decision was not based on law but on politics. It was made without a fair legal proceedings or a notice hearing that gives the Islamic Movement the chance to defend itself, the ACRI said in its statement.
The decision to ban the Islamic Movement was taken without any evidence of its involvement in any terrorist activities, the statement added.
The ACRI has warned of the serious implications of this illegal decision on the Arab minority’s rights in Israel as it raises concerns over democracy, association, and freedom of expression in the state.
The Islamic Movement is a political movement that has been acting for several years as it constitutes the main party in the High Follow-Up Committee of Arab citizens in Israel, the statement pointed out.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli cabinet has decided to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
Per the announcement, any organization or individual belonging to the northern branch or found assisting the organization in any way will be committing a criminal offense and is liable for imprisonment. Moreover, the announcement gives the Israeli government permission to confiscate all land that belongs to the organization.
Commenting on the Israeli decision, Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah declared his total rejection to the ban, vowing that the group will forever keep up its anti-occupation activism and support of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
The extremist decision was not based on law but on politics. It was made without a fair legal proceedings or a notice hearing that gives the Islamic Movement the chance to defend itself, the ACRI said in its statement.
The decision to ban the Islamic Movement was taken without any evidence of its involvement in any terrorist activities, the statement added.
The ACRI has warned of the serious implications of this illegal decision on the Arab minority’s rights in Israel as it raises concerns over democracy, association, and freedom of expression in the state.
The Islamic Movement is a political movement that has been acting for several years as it constitutes the main party in the High Follow-Up Committee of Arab citizens in Israel, the statement pointed out.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli cabinet has decided to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
Per the announcement, any organization or individual belonging to the northern branch or found assisting the organization in any way will be committing a criminal offense and is liable for imprisonment. Moreover, the announcement gives the Israeli government permission to confiscate all land that belongs to the organization.
Commenting on the Israeli decision, Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah declared his total rejection to the ban, vowing that the group will forever keep up its anti-occupation activism and support of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli surveillance police unit "Mabat 2000" operates some 400 security cameras all over the Jerusalem, according to a recent report by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The newspaper claimed that Mabat 2000, which is a technological surveillance center, was able to prevent many Palestinian stabbing and car-ramming attacks against Israelis in the city.
The cameras used by the unit give real-time footage of almost every alley and inch in the Old City, according to the Israeli claims.
However, the unit's cameras do not cover the Aqsa Mosque area, and the Israeli-Jordanian initiative to put cameras at the Islamic holy shrine will not be part of the unit's operations, the newspaper quoted a senior police commander as saying.
The newspaper claimed that Mabat 2000, which is a technological surveillance center, was able to prevent many Palestinian stabbing and car-ramming attacks against Israelis in the city.
The cameras used by the unit give real-time footage of almost every alley and inch in the Old City, according to the Israeli claims.
However, the unit's cameras do not cover the Aqsa Mosque area, and the Israeli-Jordanian initiative to put cameras at the Islamic holy shrine will not be part of the unit's operations, the newspaper quoted a senior police commander as saying.
18 nov 2015
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Wednesday morning the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibah gate under heavy police protection.
Quds Press revealed that about 37 Jewish settlers broke into the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site. One of the settlers performed Talmudic rituals near al-Rahmah gate. The guards of the Mosque forced Israeli police to make him leave al-Aqsa Mosque.
It said settlers' incursion into the Mosque's courtyards were performed from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. amid sit-inners' chanting "Allah the Greatest".
Israeli police tightened its security measures at the various gates of the Mosque and confiscated IDs of some worshipers at their entry, Quds Press pointed out.
Quds Press revealed that about 37 Jewish settlers broke into the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site. One of the settlers performed Talmudic rituals near al-Rahmah gate. The guards of the Mosque forced Israeli police to make him leave al-Aqsa Mosque.
It said settlers' incursion into the Mosque's courtyards were performed from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. amid sit-inners' chanting "Allah the Greatest".
Israeli police tightened its security measures at the various gates of the Mosque and confiscated IDs of some worshipers at their entry, Quds Press pointed out.
17 nov 2015
Hordes of Jewish settlers on Tuesday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards under tight police protection, which provoked angry reactions from the Muslim worshipers there.
The Israeli occupation police also restricted the entry of Palestinian young men and women to the Mosque and confiscated their ID cards before allowing them in.
Some women complained about preventing them from entering the Mosque at the pretext their names were on a police blacklist.
The police also intensified their presence in the alleys and streets of the Old City of Jerusalem and embarked on searching Palestinian stores and passersby.
In another incident, Israeli undercover policemen kidnapped today morning three Palestinian children from Ras al-Amud district near the Aqsa Mosque.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the policemen kidnapped the boys after they stormed al-Madares neighborhood in Ras al-Amud and clashed with young men and school children from the area.
The Israeli occupation police also restricted the entry of Palestinian young men and women to the Mosque and confiscated their ID cards before allowing them in.
Some women complained about preventing them from entering the Mosque at the pretext their names were on a police blacklist.
The police also intensified their presence in the alleys and streets of the Old City of Jerusalem and embarked on searching Palestinian stores and passersby.
In another incident, Israeli undercover policemen kidnapped today morning three Palestinian children from Ras al-Amud district near the Aqsa Mosque.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the policemen kidnapped the boys after they stormed al-Madares neighborhood in Ras al-Amud and clashed with young men and school children from the area.
The Hamas Movement strongly denounced the Israeli decision to outlaw the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands as "an act of racism."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated in a press release on Tuesday that the Israeli ban measure against the Islamic Movement targets the Arab presence in the 1948 occupied territories.
"The Israeli decision is aimed at punishing the Islamic Movement and preventing it from continuing its role in protecting the Aqsa Mosque," Abu Zuhri added, calling the decision as "a badge of honor" to the Islamic Movement.
The Hamas spokesman called on the international community to intervene to curb such Israeli racist measures against the Palestinians.
The Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday declared the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands an unlawful organization, effectively outlawing the group led by Sheikh Ra'ed Salah.
Following the decision, police forces raided over a dozen of the group's offices in the 1948 occupied lands, seizing computers, files and funds.
The Israeli occupation authority also froze its bank accounts and said that 17 organizations affiliated with the Movement were served with orders to close down.
The police also called in several of the Movement's officials for questioning, including Sheikh Salah, his deputy Sheikh Kamal Khatib, and the organization's director of Jerusalem and Aqsa Mosque affairs, Salman Abu Ahmad.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated in a press release on Tuesday that the Israeli ban measure against the Islamic Movement targets the Arab presence in the 1948 occupied territories.
"The Israeli decision is aimed at punishing the Islamic Movement and preventing it from continuing its role in protecting the Aqsa Mosque," Abu Zuhri added, calling the decision as "a badge of honor" to the Islamic Movement.
The Hamas spokesman called on the international community to intervene to curb such Israeli racist measures against the Palestinians.
The Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday declared the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands an unlawful organization, effectively outlawing the group led by Sheikh Ra'ed Salah.
Following the decision, police forces raided over a dozen of the group's offices in the 1948 occupied lands, seizing computers, files and funds.
The Israeli occupation authority also froze its bank accounts and said that 17 organizations affiliated with the Movement were served with orders to close down.
The police also called in several of the Movement's officials for questioning, including Sheikh Salah, his deputy Sheikh Kamal Khatib, and the organization's director of Jerusalem and Aqsa Mosque affairs, Salman Abu Ahmad.
Head of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Sheikh Raed Salah, at dawn Tuesday slammed an Israeli decision illegalizing the group’s anti-occupation activism.
Sheikh Raed Salah said in a statement that right after the Israeli occupation slapped its ban on the Islamic Movement, police swooped down on 17 of its offices in Umm al-Fahm at the crack of dawn.
Sheikh Salah added that the Israeli occupation police searched the 17 offices and seized a set of documents and devices before they summoned Sheikh Salah and his deputy, Kamal al-Khatib, along with activist Suleiman Ahmad, for interrogation at an Israeli investigation center in Haifa.
“Such measures are oppressive and unacceptable,” Sheikh Salah said, vowing that the Islamic movement will forever keep up its anti-occupation activism and support of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I am very proud of my position as the movement’s leader,” he said. “I will try all possible means to stop Israeli violations against al-Aqsa and Occupied Jerusalem.”
Headed by Sheikh Salah, the Islamic Movement has been active in campaigns and activities staged in support for the holy al-Aqsa Mosque and Occupied Jerusalem.
Declaring the Islamic Movement illegal means that anyone who is a member or works on its behalf can be arrested and subjected to a term in prison.
Sheikh Raed Salah said in a statement that right after the Israeli occupation slapped its ban on the Islamic Movement, police swooped down on 17 of its offices in Umm al-Fahm at the crack of dawn.
Sheikh Salah added that the Israeli occupation police searched the 17 offices and seized a set of documents and devices before they summoned Sheikh Salah and his deputy, Kamal al-Khatib, along with activist Suleiman Ahmad, for interrogation at an Israeli investigation center in Haifa.
“Such measures are oppressive and unacceptable,” Sheikh Salah said, vowing that the Islamic movement will forever keep up its anti-occupation activism and support of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I am very proud of my position as the movement’s leader,” he said. “I will try all possible means to stop Israeli violations against al-Aqsa and Occupied Jerusalem.”
Headed by Sheikh Salah, the Islamic Movement has been active in campaigns and activities staged in support for the holy al-Aqsa Mosque and Occupied Jerusalem.
Declaring the Islamic Movement illegal means that anyone who is a member or works on its behalf can be arrested and subjected to a term in prison.
16 nov 2015
Groups of Jewish settlers on Monday morning stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem and toured its courtyards under Israeli tightened security measures.
According to Quds Press, nine settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under protection of Israeli police. This coincided with the deployment of Israeli Special Forces in the vicinity of the Qibli mosque for the sake of settlers’ security.
Muslim sit-inners at the Aqsa confronted settlers’ incursion by chanting “Allah the Greatest” near the Magharebah gate. Meanwhile, Israeli police confiscated the IDs of some of the worshipers and sit-inners at their entry to the holy site.
It is noteworthy that there was a remarkable decline in the number of settlers who stormed the Aqsa Mosque during October and November compared to previous months. Before Jerusalem Intifada, the number of settlers who daily broke into the Mosque’s vicinity reached 50 while in Jewish holidays, the number reached 200.
According to Quds Press, nine settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under protection of Israeli police. This coincided with the deployment of Israeli Special Forces in the vicinity of the Qibli mosque for the sake of settlers’ security.
Muslim sit-inners at the Aqsa confronted settlers’ incursion by chanting “Allah the Greatest” near the Magharebah gate. Meanwhile, Israeli police confiscated the IDs of some of the worshipers and sit-inners at their entry to the holy site.
It is noteworthy that there was a remarkable decline in the number of settlers who stormed the Aqsa Mosque during October and November compared to previous months. Before Jerusalem Intifada, the number of settlers who daily broke into the Mosque’s vicinity reached 50 while in Jewish holidays, the number reached 200.
Despite movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli police in the Old City of Jerusalem, a large number of Palestinian worshipers were able to enter the Aqsa Mosque on Monday morning.
According to Qpress information center, scores of Muslim worshipers from Occupied Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands spread throughout the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards, reading holy Qur'an and participating in religious sessions.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen were seen escorting some groups of Jewish settlers as they were touring the Mosque's plateaus, which prompted Palestinian men and women there to chant religious slogans in protest at their desecration of the Islamic holy site.
According to Qpress information center, scores of Muslim worshipers from Occupied Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands spread throughout the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards, reading holy Qur'an and participating in religious sessions.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen were seen escorting some groups of Jewish settlers as they were touring the Mosque's plateaus, which prompted Palestinian men and women there to chant religious slogans in protest at their desecration of the Islamic holy site.
The Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem, Ambassador Mustafa Sarnıç, praised the close relationship between his country and Palestine historically and culturally.
He drew attention to the big concern given by the Turkish people to the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem. He also stressed that preventing entry to al-Aqsa Mosque will affect the whole Islamic world.
Sarnıç pointed out in an exclusive interview with QPress that the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque is very important to the Muslim world, as it is related to the incident of "Isra and Mi'raj " and is the third of the Two Holy Mosques (the Holy Kaaba at Mecca and the prophet's Mosque at Madina), stressing that the sanctity of al-Aqsa is of great importance for the Turkish people, so it must be preserved with all its peculiarities.
He said also: "The humanitarian and moral obligation on those who care about al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem is to maintain its distinctiveness.” He stressed that the protection of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is the responsibility of all Muslims.
He emphasized that preventing the entry of Muslims to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, does not affect only Palestinians, but the entire Muslim world as a whole.
Sarnıç stressed the right of all Muslims of various nationalities and the Palestinians to enter al-Aqsa Mosque and to perform their religious rituals in full freedom and comfort without any restrictions.
He continued: "Jerusalem should be the city of peace for the three religions, and all parties should respect this. Achieving peace in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is the responsibility of the entire world."
Sarnıç stressed the keenness of the State of Turkey and its government, which will be composed soon, and its people on supporting Palestine and Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque with all potentials.
He explained that Turkey is working hard with all the means at the level of the presidency, ministries, non-governmental institutions and journalists, to highlight its position, its keenness and interest in al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as working at the level of international forums to do its duty towards al-Aqsa Mosque, to end the suffering of the Palestinians and Muslims so that they can reach al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers.
As for the projects implemented by Turkey in the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the ambassador said that many important projects were implemented in the infrastructure and maintenance of cultural monuments and the Islamic archaeological relics in the Old City and in al-Aqsa Mosque.
He explained that Turkey implements its projects through institutions that operate effectively in Palestine, including Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency “TİKA”.
He said: "The TİKA Foundation in cooperation with the Islamic Waqf has coated the crescent on top of the Dome of the Rock with gold, in addition to the restoration of the archive room inside al-Aqsa Mosque, rebuilding of the Yusufiyah Cemetery and other projects carried out in cooperation with the Waqf".
He added: "Our projects are not limited to al- Aqsa Mosque, but we have other projects in the Old City of Jerusalem that maintained historical landmarks."
The Turkish ambassador pointed to the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs’ interest in the success of a major project, which is to send the Turkish visitors to the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, before they go to perform Umrah.
He pointed out that it is expected that the number of Turkish visitors to Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque during one year would reach up to 100 thousand, which helps to support and improve the tourism industry and the economic conditions of the Palestinians.
He drew attention to the big concern given by the Turkish people to the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem. He also stressed that preventing entry to al-Aqsa Mosque will affect the whole Islamic world.
Sarnıç pointed out in an exclusive interview with QPress that the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque is very important to the Muslim world, as it is related to the incident of "Isra and Mi'raj " and is the third of the Two Holy Mosques (the Holy Kaaba at Mecca and the prophet's Mosque at Madina), stressing that the sanctity of al-Aqsa is of great importance for the Turkish people, so it must be preserved with all its peculiarities.
He said also: "The humanitarian and moral obligation on those who care about al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem is to maintain its distinctiveness.” He stressed that the protection of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa is the responsibility of all Muslims.
He emphasized that preventing the entry of Muslims to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, does not affect only Palestinians, but the entire Muslim world as a whole.
Sarnıç stressed the right of all Muslims of various nationalities and the Palestinians to enter al-Aqsa Mosque and to perform their religious rituals in full freedom and comfort without any restrictions.
He continued: "Jerusalem should be the city of peace for the three religions, and all parties should respect this. Achieving peace in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is the responsibility of the entire world."
Sarnıç stressed the keenness of the State of Turkey and its government, which will be composed soon, and its people on supporting Palestine and Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque with all potentials.
He explained that Turkey is working hard with all the means at the level of the presidency, ministries, non-governmental institutions and journalists, to highlight its position, its keenness and interest in al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as working at the level of international forums to do its duty towards al-Aqsa Mosque, to end the suffering of the Palestinians and Muslims so that they can reach al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers.
As for the projects implemented by Turkey in the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the ambassador said that many important projects were implemented in the infrastructure and maintenance of cultural monuments and the Islamic archaeological relics in the Old City and in al-Aqsa Mosque.
He explained that Turkey implements its projects through institutions that operate effectively in Palestine, including Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency “TİKA”.
He said: "The TİKA Foundation in cooperation with the Islamic Waqf has coated the crescent on top of the Dome of the Rock with gold, in addition to the restoration of the archive room inside al-Aqsa Mosque, rebuilding of the Yusufiyah Cemetery and other projects carried out in cooperation with the Waqf".
He added: "Our projects are not limited to al- Aqsa Mosque, but we have other projects in the Old City of Jerusalem that maintained historical landmarks."
The Turkish ambassador pointed to the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs’ interest in the success of a major project, which is to send the Turkish visitors to the city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, before they go to perform Umrah.
He pointed out that it is expected that the number of Turkish visitors to Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque during one year would reach up to 100 thousand, which helps to support and improve the tourism industry and the economic conditions of the Palestinians.
The Hebrew radio has revealed an Israeli official plan to build a new outpost for Jewish settlers in Bab al-Sahera (Herod's Gate) in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli government on Sunday published on one of its websites a tender for the building of 21 housing units for settlers as well as a synagogue and a Jewish school in the Old City, according to the Israeli army's radio station.
The radio station quoted an Israeli official from the ministry of construction and housing as saying that the plan was deleted from the website after it was posted by mistake due to its sensitivity and the serious political repercussions that might result from it.
For its part, the Israeli settlement monitor group in Jerusalem Ir Amim denied the plan was announced by mistake and affirmed that it reflected the real intents of premier Benjamin Netanyahu in the holy city.
The Israeli government on Sunday published on one of its websites a tender for the building of 21 housing units for settlers as well as a synagogue and a Jewish school in the Old City, according to the Israeli army's radio station.
The radio station quoted an Israeli official from the ministry of construction and housing as saying that the plan was deleted from the website after it was posted by mistake due to its sensitivity and the serious political repercussions that might result from it.
For its part, the Israeli settlement monitor group in Jerusalem Ir Amim denied the plan was announced by mistake and affirmed that it reflected the real intents of premier Benjamin Netanyahu in the holy city.
