30 nov 2015
A group of Jewish settlers Monday morning stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures by Israeli forces.
A Palestinian sit-inner at the Mosque revealed that a group of settlers broke into and provocatively roamed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site.
On the other hand, Israeli policemen barred Jerusalemite women from entering the Aqsa Mosque in the morning. The Israeli police command is still preventing other women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque. A group of Jewish settlers Monday morning stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures by Israeli forces.
A Palestinian sit-inner at the Mosque revealed that a group of settlers broke into and provocatively roamed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site.
On the other hand, Israeli policemen barred Jerusalemite women from entering the Aqsa Mosque in the morning. The Israeli police command is still preventing other women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque.
A Palestinian sit-inner at the Mosque revealed that a group of settlers broke into and provocatively roamed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site.
On the other hand, Israeli policemen barred Jerusalemite women from entering the Aqsa Mosque in the morning. The Israeli police command is still preventing other women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque. A group of Jewish settlers Monday morning stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures by Israeli forces.
A Palestinian sit-inner at the Mosque revealed that a group of settlers broke into and provocatively roamed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site.
On the other hand, Israeli policemen barred Jerusalemite women from entering the Aqsa Mosque in the morning. The Israeli police command is still preventing other women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque.
29 nov 2015
Guards of al-Aqsa Mosque managed on Sunday morning to prevent Israeli extremist settlers holding a structure of the alleged Temple from entering into al-Aqsa compound.
The Waqf Authority has affirmed that the settlers were forced to leave the Mosque courtyards after being confronted by the guards.
One of the extremist settlers had tried to perform Talmudic rituals near al-Silsla Gate before being brought out by Israeli forces.
Palestinian worshipers, in their turn, started shouting Takbeer in protest against Israeli break-ins into their holy site.
Meanwhile, around 49 Israeli settlers stormed the Mosque from the Israeli-controlled Maghareba Gate under heavy police protection, while dozens of Palestinian women were prevented from having access into the compound at the same time.
The Waqf Authority has affirmed that the settlers were forced to leave the Mosque courtyards after being confronted by the guards.
One of the extremist settlers had tried to perform Talmudic rituals near al-Silsla Gate before being brought out by Israeli forces.
Palestinian worshipers, in their turn, started shouting Takbeer in protest against Israeli break-ins into their holy site.
Meanwhile, around 49 Israeli settlers stormed the Mosque from the Israeli-controlled Maghareba Gate under heavy police protection, while dozens of Palestinian women were prevented from having access into the compound at the same time.
Ziyad Hammouri, director and a founder of the Jerusalem Center for Social & Economic Rights, warned of the repercussions of the Israeli resolution of withdrawing residency from Jerusalemites and described the decision as "ethnic cleansing".
Israeli media said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is deliberating on whether to withdraw residencies from more than 80,000 Jerusalemites residing behind the Israeli Separation Wall.
However, Palestinian statistics show that more than 120,000 Palestinians reside in the neighborhoods behind the Wall. These neighborhoods are now geographically connected to the West Bank, with Israeli military checkpoints separating them from Jerusalem, and the Palestinian residents of that region continuously pay taxes to the Israeli occupation government.
Israeli racist concerns
Hammouri clarified in an interview with the PIC that Israel is concerned about the demographic situation in Occupied Jerusalem, and is exerting all efforts to achieve a complete Judaization of Jerusalem through exiling Palestinians and bringing 300,000 Israeli settlers to live in their place. He warned of Israel's next escalations that would include demolishing Palestinian houses and putting economic pressures on Jerusalemites, making their lives miserably unlivable.
Hammouri warned of the negative impacts of the Israeli measures that would completely seclude these Palestinians from Jerusalem, and affect the Palestinian education, too.
Economic losses
According to Hammouri, the Palestinian economy would suffer formidable losses, especially in the commercial sector of the Old City, due to the Israeli high taxes imposed on Palestinian shops owners, which may oblige them to work in Israeli facilities to make livelihood.
He pointed out that all the Israeli ministries have special budgets for Jerusalem, especially for funding the settlement projects. On the other hand, the PLO's budget for Jerusalem is only $5-8 million.
According to Hammouri, 80% of Jerusalemites are under the poverty line, with deterioration in the economic and social conditions in the Old City due to the population density.
Absence of strategies
Hammouri lamented the absence of a Palestinian strategy to face the Israeli schemes. He insisted that the PLO has to cut some budgets from some ministries to provide financial support for the Jerusalemites. He mentioned that 20% of the Palestinian shops in the Old City are closed due to the bad economic conditions, threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of Palestinian.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Jerusalem, according to Hammouri, fosters the social epidemics among Palestinians, which is something immensely preferred by the Israeli occupation.
Civil administration
Hammouri said the Israeli plans aim at turning the regions behind the Separation Wall into " civil administration", i.e. putting them under military rule. Therefore, the PLO, rather than the Israel municipality, would be responsible for providing services to these areas.
He stated that Jerusalem is a crucial issue for Israel, insisting that less than 12,000 Jerusalemites have Israeli nationalities.
Since 1967, the Israeli authorities have withdrawn the residency from 14,900 Jerusalemites.
Israeli media said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is deliberating on whether to withdraw residencies from more than 80,000 Jerusalemites residing behind the Israeli Separation Wall.
However, Palestinian statistics show that more than 120,000 Palestinians reside in the neighborhoods behind the Wall. These neighborhoods are now geographically connected to the West Bank, with Israeli military checkpoints separating them from Jerusalem, and the Palestinian residents of that region continuously pay taxes to the Israeli occupation government.
Israeli racist concerns
Hammouri clarified in an interview with the PIC that Israel is concerned about the demographic situation in Occupied Jerusalem, and is exerting all efforts to achieve a complete Judaization of Jerusalem through exiling Palestinians and bringing 300,000 Israeli settlers to live in their place. He warned of Israel's next escalations that would include demolishing Palestinian houses and putting economic pressures on Jerusalemites, making their lives miserably unlivable.
Hammouri warned of the negative impacts of the Israeli measures that would completely seclude these Palestinians from Jerusalem, and affect the Palestinian education, too.
Economic losses
According to Hammouri, the Palestinian economy would suffer formidable losses, especially in the commercial sector of the Old City, due to the Israeli high taxes imposed on Palestinian shops owners, which may oblige them to work in Israeli facilities to make livelihood.
He pointed out that all the Israeli ministries have special budgets for Jerusalem, especially for funding the settlement projects. On the other hand, the PLO's budget for Jerusalem is only $5-8 million.
According to Hammouri, 80% of Jerusalemites are under the poverty line, with deterioration in the economic and social conditions in the Old City due to the population density.
Absence of strategies
Hammouri lamented the absence of a Palestinian strategy to face the Israeli schemes. He insisted that the PLO has to cut some budgets from some ministries to provide financial support for the Jerusalemites. He mentioned that 20% of the Palestinian shops in the Old City are closed due to the bad economic conditions, threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of Palestinian.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Jerusalem, according to Hammouri, fosters the social epidemics among Palestinians, which is something immensely preferred by the Israeli occupation.
Civil administration
Hammouri said the Israeli plans aim at turning the regions behind the Separation Wall into " civil administration", i.e. putting them under military rule. Therefore, the PLO, rather than the Israel municipality, would be responsible for providing services to these areas.
He stated that Jerusalem is a crucial issue for Israel, insisting that less than 12,000 Jerusalemites have Israeli nationalities.
Since 1967, the Israeli authorities have withdrawn the residency from 14,900 Jerusalemites.
Scores of Palestinians suffered injuries on Saturday in a renewed round of violent clashes with the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in different West Bank areas, which saw widespread road closures and raids on homes.
In al-Khalil, a number of Palestinians, including families in their homes, suffered from inhaling tear gas during clashes with invading Israeli troops in Beit Ummar town and the refugee camps of al-Aroub and al-Fawwar.
Local sources said that the Israeli army tightened its blockade on al-Aroub camp after it blocked an entrance near the graveyard used by the residents.
The Israeli army had imposed a tight blockade on the camp in the past few days.
In Tulkarem, the IOF kidnapped yesterday evening 15-year-old Ismail Khalil from his home in Far'un town, south of the province.
Eyewitnesses said the IOF invaded Far'un town in large numbers and prevented all residents from going in or out.
They added that the soldiers forced storekeepers to close their businesses and imposed a curfew on the town.
In Ramallah, the IOF stormed Badras village in the west and embarked, with no reason, on firing tear gas and stun grenades on its streets, which triggered clashes between them and local young men.
A Palestinian young man reportedly suffered a leg injury from live fire during the confrontations with the invading troops in the village.
In Qalqiliya, Israeli soldiers in the evening maltreated citizens at the entrance to the city and detained hundreds of cars at the liaison checkpoint (DCO).
Earlier, the IOF attacked an anti-settlement march in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqiliya.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) yesterday that the IOF fired volleys of live and rubber bullets as well as tear gas and stun grenades at the participants in the march and wounded several of them.
In Nablus, five young men suffered injuries during clashes with Israeli troops near Hawwara checkpoint, south of the city.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army was still closing all entrances to Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, and obstructing the movement of Palestinian vehicles and citizens, according to local sources on Saturday.
The Israeli army also closed, for about three hours, the main entrance to Bir Nabala town, which leads to Palestinian villages in the northwest of Jerusalem.
In addition, the army closed with concrete blocks al-Kassara road in al-Khalil city and the entrance to Bani Naim town, east of the city.
A makeshift checkpoint was also set up at the western entrance to As-Samua town, south of al-Khalil, where the IOF embarked on searching Palestinian vehicles and passengers.
In an earlier incident, the IOF had launched a dawn campaign in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil and searched several homes, including the house of martyr Omar al-Za'aqiq, who carried a car-ramming attack last Friday on Israeli soldiers near the town.
The IOF also raided the Mosque of the town and interrogated one of the worshipers inside it.
In al-Khalil, a number of Palestinians, including families in their homes, suffered from inhaling tear gas during clashes with invading Israeli troops in Beit Ummar town and the refugee camps of al-Aroub and al-Fawwar.
Local sources said that the Israeli army tightened its blockade on al-Aroub camp after it blocked an entrance near the graveyard used by the residents.
The Israeli army had imposed a tight blockade on the camp in the past few days.
In Tulkarem, the IOF kidnapped yesterday evening 15-year-old Ismail Khalil from his home in Far'un town, south of the province.
Eyewitnesses said the IOF invaded Far'un town in large numbers and prevented all residents from going in or out.
They added that the soldiers forced storekeepers to close their businesses and imposed a curfew on the town.
In Ramallah, the IOF stormed Badras village in the west and embarked, with no reason, on firing tear gas and stun grenades on its streets, which triggered clashes between them and local young men.
A Palestinian young man reportedly suffered a leg injury from live fire during the confrontations with the invading troops in the village.
In Qalqiliya, Israeli soldiers in the evening maltreated citizens at the entrance to the city and detained hundreds of cars at the liaison checkpoint (DCO).
Earlier, the IOF attacked an anti-settlement march in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqiliya.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) yesterday that the IOF fired volleys of live and rubber bullets as well as tear gas and stun grenades at the participants in the march and wounded several of them.
In Nablus, five young men suffered injuries during clashes with Israeli troops near Hawwara checkpoint, south of the city.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army was still closing all entrances to Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, and obstructing the movement of Palestinian vehicles and citizens, according to local sources on Saturday.
The Israeli army also closed, for about three hours, the main entrance to Bir Nabala town, which leads to Palestinian villages in the northwest of Jerusalem.
In addition, the army closed with concrete blocks al-Kassara road in al-Khalil city and the entrance to Bani Naim town, east of the city.
A makeshift checkpoint was also set up at the western entrance to As-Samua town, south of al-Khalil, where the IOF embarked on searching Palestinian vehicles and passengers.
In an earlier incident, the IOF had launched a dawn campaign in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil and searched several homes, including the house of martyr Omar al-Za'aqiq, who carried a car-ramming attack last Friday on Israeli soldiers near the town.
The IOF also raided the Mosque of the town and interrogated one of the worshipers inside it.
A group of Islamic scholars and organizations Saturday called for providing mass-support for the Palestinian cause and defending the holy al-Aqsa Mosque against simmering Israeli terrorism.
Addressing the conferees at the First Conference for Muslim Scholars held in Palestine by the Palestinian Scholars Association and the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Marwan Abu Ras opined that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a religious one.
“The Israeli occupation is a stray entity. Its name, star, parliament, streets, and city names are altogether a proof that its war against the Palestinians is waged on a religious ground.”
He stressed scholars’ key-role in providing support for the Palestinian people and Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque.
The group’s Secretary General, Ali al-Qurah Daghi, called, in a televised speech from Qatar, for providing anti-occupation activists with the moral and financial back up needed in carrying out their resistance mission.
Head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Judiciary, Sheikh Hasan al-Juju, said: “As long as the Israeli colonizers are wreaking havoc on the Palestinian soil and striving to change the region’s Islamic character, Muslims and Arabs shall never have a moment’s rest.”
Speaking at the forum, head of the Muslim Scholars Association in Lebanon, Ahmad al-Amri urged Arabs and Muslims to stand up for the Palestinian people by all means available.
For his part, Deputy Head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Party Abdul Fatah Muru hailed the Palestinian men and women who have been maintaining vigil in Occupied Jerusalem, saying: “As long as the Muslim Nation is alive your cause will survive."
“Palestine is the cause of every single human being who has got a soul and a mind; it is the cause of every single human being who feels, hopes, and dreams of better future for the entire humanity,” Muru added.
General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Hammam Sai’d also addressed the Palestinian people as stating: “You, Palestinians, have succeeded to impose a new fait accompli on the usurper Israeli entity by starting your Third Intifada on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the House of the Holy Quran and Sunnah in Gaza, Abdul Rahman al-Jamal, said: “We took it upon our shoulders to raise future Muslim generations not just on the memorization of Quran but also on the very principles, ethics, and morals that holy book preaches.”
Prominent Indian scholar Salman Al-Nadi also called for a serious and unified position to be firmly adopted in solidarity with the Palestinians and all of the world’s oppressed peoples.
“Palestine is the land of prophets, peace be upon them. Palestine is for all Muslims,” Head of the Malaysian Islamic Party, Abdul Hadi Ong said.
Head of Syria’s Islamic Council, Ahmad al-Refai declared that Palestine is Muslims’ primary concern.
For her part, Jerusalemite sit-inner Zina Amr appealed to the world’s scholars and activists to take up their responsibility vis-à-vis the oppressed Palestinian people and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Massive protest against ban on Islamic Movement in Umm al-Fahm
Thousands of Palestinians on Saturday participated in a march organized in Umm al-Fahm city, north of the 1948 occupied lands, in protest at the Israeli ban imposed on the Islamic Movement.
During the protest, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, described, in a speech, the Israeli ban as a new beginning for his Movement.
Sheikh Salah also condemned the Israeli measures against his Movement as acts of racism and terrorism, warning the Israelis that their government would lead them to the unknown.
He highlighted that "his Movement does not derive its legitimacy from the Israeli occupation and will remain defending Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque."
A number of Arab Knesset members and political figures in the 1948 occupied land participated in the march
Addressing the conferees at the First Conference for Muslim Scholars held in Palestine by the Palestinian Scholars Association and the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Marwan Abu Ras opined that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a religious one.
“The Israeli occupation is a stray entity. Its name, star, parliament, streets, and city names are altogether a proof that its war against the Palestinians is waged on a religious ground.”
He stressed scholars’ key-role in providing support for the Palestinian people and Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque.
The group’s Secretary General, Ali al-Qurah Daghi, called, in a televised speech from Qatar, for providing anti-occupation activists with the moral and financial back up needed in carrying out their resistance mission.
Head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Judiciary, Sheikh Hasan al-Juju, said: “As long as the Israeli colonizers are wreaking havoc on the Palestinian soil and striving to change the region’s Islamic character, Muslims and Arabs shall never have a moment’s rest.”
Speaking at the forum, head of the Muslim Scholars Association in Lebanon, Ahmad al-Amri urged Arabs and Muslims to stand up for the Palestinian people by all means available.
For his part, Deputy Head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Party Abdul Fatah Muru hailed the Palestinian men and women who have been maintaining vigil in Occupied Jerusalem, saying: “As long as the Muslim Nation is alive your cause will survive."
“Palestine is the cause of every single human being who has got a soul and a mind; it is the cause of every single human being who feels, hopes, and dreams of better future for the entire humanity,” Muru added.
General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Hammam Sai’d also addressed the Palestinian people as stating: “You, Palestinians, have succeeded to impose a new fait accompli on the usurper Israeli entity by starting your Third Intifada on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the House of the Holy Quran and Sunnah in Gaza, Abdul Rahman al-Jamal, said: “We took it upon our shoulders to raise future Muslim generations not just on the memorization of Quran but also on the very principles, ethics, and morals that holy book preaches.”
Prominent Indian scholar Salman Al-Nadi also called for a serious and unified position to be firmly adopted in solidarity with the Palestinians and all of the world’s oppressed peoples.
“Palestine is the land of prophets, peace be upon them. Palestine is for all Muslims,” Head of the Malaysian Islamic Party, Abdul Hadi Ong said.
Head of Syria’s Islamic Council, Ahmad al-Refai declared that Palestine is Muslims’ primary concern.
For her part, Jerusalemite sit-inner Zina Amr appealed to the world’s scholars and activists to take up their responsibility vis-à-vis the oppressed Palestinian people and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Massive protest against ban on Islamic Movement in Umm al-Fahm
Thousands of Palestinians on Saturday participated in a march organized in Umm al-Fahm city, north of the 1948 occupied lands, in protest at the Israeli ban imposed on the Islamic Movement.
During the protest, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, described, in a speech, the Israeli ban as a new beginning for his Movement.
Sheikh Salah also condemned the Israeli measures against his Movement as acts of racism and terrorism, warning the Israelis that their government would lead them to the unknown.
He highlighted that "his Movement does not derive its legitimacy from the Israeli occupation and will remain defending Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque."
A number of Arab Knesset members and political figures in the 1948 occupied land participated in the march
26 nov 2015
Thousands of Muslim worshipers from all Palestinian areas performed the Friday prayers today at the Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Quds Press said that over 20,000 Palestinians from the West Bank, the 1948 occupied lands, and the Gaza Strip flocked to Jerusalem to listen to the Khutba and pray at the Mosque.
It added that the Israeli occupation police did not impose restrictions on the entry of Muslims to the Aqsa Mosque to perform the prayers this Friday, but they embarked on searching Palestinian citizens in the Old City of Jerusalem and around the Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Mohamed Hussein, Grand Mufti of Palestine and Jerusalem, preached the Friday khutba, which highlighted the issue of Israel's detention of Palestinian martyrs' bodies.
Sheikh Hussein emphasized that the families of martyrs have the right to bury their sons and daughters properly in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia.
He called on international human rights groups to pressure Israel to release the bodies of Palestinians killed by its soldiers.
The preacher also talked about the ongoing Israeli violations at the Aqsa Mosque and its exposure to daily desecration by Jewish settlers.
"No one has the right to interfere in the Aqsa Mosque's affairs, including the occupation. The Mosque with its courtyards, corridors and prayer halls exclusively belongs to the Muslims," he underlined.
Quds Press said that over 20,000 Palestinians from the West Bank, the 1948 occupied lands, and the Gaza Strip flocked to Jerusalem to listen to the Khutba and pray at the Mosque.
It added that the Israeli occupation police did not impose restrictions on the entry of Muslims to the Aqsa Mosque to perform the prayers this Friday, but they embarked on searching Palestinian citizens in the Old City of Jerusalem and around the Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Mohamed Hussein, Grand Mufti of Palestine and Jerusalem, preached the Friday khutba, which highlighted the issue of Israel's detention of Palestinian martyrs' bodies.
Sheikh Hussein emphasized that the families of martyrs have the right to bury their sons and daughters properly in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia.
He called on international human rights groups to pressure Israel to release the bodies of Palestinians killed by its soldiers.
The preacher also talked about the ongoing Israeli violations at the Aqsa Mosque and its exposure to daily desecration by Jewish settlers.
"No one has the right to interfere in the Aqsa Mosque's affairs, including the occupation. The Mosque with its courtyards, corridors and prayer halls exclusively belongs to the Muslims," he underlined.
26 nov 2015
A group of Jewish settlers escorted by policemen and two intelligence officers on Thursday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards.
Local sources said that Israeli policemen escorted 29 settlers during their tour of the Mosque's plateaus, which raised the ire of Muslim worshipers there and prompted them to express their protest by chanting religious slogans.
The sources added that two Shin Bet officers also entered the Mosque in the morning and toured its precincts.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police, as always, prevented a number of Palestinian women from entering the Aqsa Mosque at the pretext that they cause trouble and obstruct their work.
Local sources said that Israeli policemen escorted 29 settlers during their tour of the Mosque's plateaus, which raised the ire of Muslim worshipers there and prompted them to express their protest by chanting religious slogans.
The sources added that two Shin Bet officers also entered the Mosque in the morning and toured its precincts.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police, as always, prevented a number of Palestinian women from entering the Aqsa Mosque at the pretext that they cause trouble and obstruct their work.
25 nov 2015
Israeli right-wing paramilitary settlers, on Wednesday, broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, in an act of provocation against Muslims worldwide, who consider it the third-holiest site in Islam. Such invasions, with weapons, into the sacred site are considered a severe violation of its sanctity.
Right-wing Jewish hard-liners and rabbis stormed and toured the mosque compound in the morning, provoking tension with Palestinian worshippers who chanted religious slogans in defiance of the invasion of the sacred site.
Meanwhile, Israeli police continue to impose restrictions on Palestinian entry to the site, especially women and youth, holding their identity cards prior to admittance.
The site has continually witnessed invasions of the sacred interior of the mosque by the Israeli military and armed paramilitary settlers - this has increased significantly beginning in August of this year when Israeli soldiers teargassed worshippers in the mosque.
The Jewish extremists invading the site on numerous occasions have stated publicly that they believe the mosque should be destroyed and replaced with a Jewish temple.
Reports that Israel was planning to enforce a temporal division of the mosque between Muslims and Jews also helped fuel the current round of unrest in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
The site is the third holiest place for Muslims, and has, since 1967, been among the core issues in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. Near the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a site where some Jews believe that two Jewish temples were destroyed in ancient times.
Many Palestinian Muslims worry that if Jewish visitors were allowed to pray in the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, it would eventually lead to a permanent change which will result in full Israeli control and ban on Muslim prayer.
Despite the fact that the site is the location of al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, two of the most holy destinations for Muslims, hundreds of Jewish extremists regularly attempt to legalize prayer at the compound, a move that Israeli police say is a provocation against Muslim worshippers.
See also: Rabbis: Killing Palestinians a Religious Duty
Right-wing Jewish hard-liners and rabbis stormed and toured the mosque compound in the morning, provoking tension with Palestinian worshippers who chanted religious slogans in defiance of the invasion of the sacred site.
Meanwhile, Israeli police continue to impose restrictions on Palestinian entry to the site, especially women and youth, holding their identity cards prior to admittance.
The site has continually witnessed invasions of the sacred interior of the mosque by the Israeli military and armed paramilitary settlers - this has increased significantly beginning in August of this year when Israeli soldiers teargassed worshippers in the mosque.
The Jewish extremists invading the site on numerous occasions have stated publicly that they believe the mosque should be destroyed and replaced with a Jewish temple.
Reports that Israel was planning to enforce a temporal division of the mosque between Muslims and Jews also helped fuel the current round of unrest in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
The site is the third holiest place for Muslims, and has, since 1967, been among the core issues in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. Near the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a site where some Jews believe that two Jewish temples were destroyed in ancient times.
Many Palestinian Muslims worry that if Jewish visitors were allowed to pray in the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, it would eventually lead to a permanent change which will result in full Israeli control and ban on Muslim prayer.
Despite the fact that the site is the location of al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, two of the most holy destinations for Muslims, hundreds of Jewish extremists regularly attempt to legalize prayer at the compound, a move that Israeli police say is a provocation against Muslim worshippers.
See also: Rabbis: Killing Palestinians a Religious Duty
About 15 members of the Knesset from hardline parties have submitted a draft law demanding the closure of Palestinian mosques which incite violence against Israelis.
The bill was introduced Tuesday by MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, and signed by MKs from his party as well as Likud, Kulanu and Yisrael Beytenu.
"While this behavior (incitement) was banned many years ago in the penal code, no legislation has been made against the places where incitement to violence occur," the bill read.
The bill, however, did not talk about the incitement against the Palestinians that is preached on a daily basis by rabbis at synagogues and religious institutes.
The Knesset recently approved multiple racist bills aimed at punishing the Palestinians for defending themselves against Israeli violations.
If the bill is sanctioned, dozens of mosques in the 1948 occupied lands as well as in the West Bank and Jerusalem will be closed.
The bill was introduced Tuesday by MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, and signed by MKs from his party as well as Likud, Kulanu and Yisrael Beytenu.
"While this behavior (incitement) was banned many years ago in the penal code, no legislation has been made against the places where incitement to violence occur," the bill read.
The bill, however, did not talk about the incitement against the Palestinians that is preached on a daily basis by rabbis at synagogues and religious institutes.
The Knesset recently approved multiple racist bills aimed at punishing the Palestinians for defending themselves against Israeli violations.
If the bill is sanctioned, dozens of mosques in the 1948 occupied lands as well as in the West Bank and Jerusalem will be closed.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) banned the two Islamic Movement leaders Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib and Dr. Salman Ighbariyeh from entering Occupied Jerusalem for six months.
The Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Information Center said the IOA handed both al-Khatib and Ighbariyeh, two prominent leaders of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, military orders banning them from Occupied Jerusalem for six months.
Sheikh al-Khatib said in a Facebook statement posted shortly after he had received the ban: “Today we received an order banning us from entering Occupied Jerusalem for six months after an earlier order banning us from al-Aqsa for the same period has just come to an end.”
“The Israeli occupation should bear in mind that none of such bans on the Islamic Movement shall prevent us from serving Muslims and Palestinians alike and protecting Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque,” he added.
For his part, activist Ighbariyeh slammed the “new-old, arbitrary” ban, saying it will never prevent the Palestinians of the 1948 occupied territories from supporting Occupied Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa “as long as there is blood in their veins.”
The Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Information Center said the IOA handed both al-Khatib and Ighbariyeh, two prominent leaders of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, military orders banning them from Occupied Jerusalem for six months.
Sheikh al-Khatib said in a Facebook statement posted shortly after he had received the ban: “Today we received an order banning us from entering Occupied Jerusalem for six months after an earlier order banning us from al-Aqsa for the same period has just come to an end.”
“The Israeli occupation should bear in mind that none of such bans on the Islamic Movement shall prevent us from serving Muslims and Palestinians alike and protecting Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque,” he added.
For his part, activist Ighbariyeh slammed the “new-old, arbitrary” ban, saying it will never prevent the Palestinians of the 1948 occupied territories from supporting Occupied Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa “as long as there is blood in their veins.”
