4 dec 2014
Confiscating houses, imposing laws, harassing the residents … these are some of the methods pursued by the Israeli occupation aiming to judaize Silwan district in occupied Jerusalem. The settlers and the extremist Jewish groups are frantically trying to take over as many Jerusalemites' houses as possible in Silwan and displace the residents, according to the PIC correspondent.
He pointed out that ever since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, Silwan has always been the focus of the settlers' attention and greed, and the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have been planning to replace the Jerusalemites with Israeli settlers.
Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science, believes Israel is seeking all possible ways to Judaize Silwan and the other districts and suburbs of occupied Jerusalem, adding that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking advantage of the Arabs’ preoccupation with their internal disputes.
For his part, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in the Green Line, believes that these Judaization attempts aim to falsify the history of occupied Jerusalem.
Human rights activist Mahmoud Damra said that the occupation is exploiting the so-called ‘Absentee Law’ to take over the properties of the refugees who forcibly left their lands.
The occupation is also seizing the Jerusalemites' houses through the so-called Elad Settlement Association. Activist Nassir Issa said: "Unfortunately, Elad Settlement Association brought some settlers here, making us feel like refugees in our own native land”.
Various means
In addition to the abovementioned Israeli practices, Silwan district suffers from constant excavations, Hiba Khaldoun, a Silwan resident, said: "I hear the diggings all the time and as a result many walls of the houses in the area have cracked, but the (Israeli-controlled) municipality refuses to admit that".
Silwan residents are calling on all Arabs and Muslims to take action against displacing the Jerusalemites and dividing Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He pointed out that ever since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, Silwan has always been the focus of the settlers' attention and greed, and the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have been planning to replace the Jerusalemites with Israeli settlers.
Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science, believes Israel is seeking all possible ways to Judaize Silwan and the other districts and suburbs of occupied Jerusalem, adding that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking advantage of the Arabs’ preoccupation with their internal disputes.
For his part, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in the Green Line, believes that these Judaization attempts aim to falsify the history of occupied Jerusalem.
Human rights activist Mahmoud Damra said that the occupation is exploiting the so-called ‘Absentee Law’ to take over the properties of the refugees who forcibly left their lands.
The occupation is also seizing the Jerusalemites' houses through the so-called Elad Settlement Association. Activist Nassir Issa said: "Unfortunately, Elad Settlement Association brought some settlers here, making us feel like refugees in our own native land”.
Various means
In addition to the abovementioned Israeli practices, Silwan district suffers from constant excavations, Hiba Khaldoun, a Silwan resident, said: "I hear the diggings all the time and as a result many walls of the houses in the area have cracked, but the (Israeli-controlled) municipality refuses to admit that".
Silwan residents are calling on all Arabs and Muslims to take action against displacing the Jerusalemites and dividing Al-Aqsa Mosque.
37 settlers stormed Thursday morning the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque through Mughrabi gate amid tight security measures. Yesterday, Israeli army bulldozers demolished a Palestinian-owned building and 20 commercial shops in occupied East Jerusalem, on the claim that they had been built without permission.
Director of Al Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Alkeswani, told Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency that 37 settlers divided to six groups stormed Al-Aqsa’s courtyards, the latest invasion involving 17 settlers breaking in through Mughrabi Gate, guarded by intelligence agents and police.
Alkeswani pointed out that a number of settlers tried to perform Talmudic rituals, but were confronted by defenders, including worshipers at the mosque, and were taken out through the gate of al-Selsela.
Alkeswani noted that the Israeli police has been blackmailing Palestinian worshipers and students by seizing their identities cards.
See 11/16/14 Women Assaulted as Al Aqsa Restrictions Reimposed and Settlers Tour Mosque with Armed Escort for further details.
Israeli army bulldozers, on Wednesday, demolished a Palestinian building and 20 commercial shops in occupied East Jerusalem under the pretexts that the structures had been built without permission.
"Four bulldozers backed by 300 Israeli troops forced their way into the Shuafat refugee camp early this morning and began demolishing 20 shops and one building," Mohamed Masalmeh, head of the refugee camp's popular committee, told Anadolu Agency.
He said that Israeli forces had prevented anyone from approaching the area since early morning.
Director of Al Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Alkeswani, told Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency that 37 settlers divided to six groups stormed Al-Aqsa’s courtyards, the latest invasion involving 17 settlers breaking in through Mughrabi Gate, guarded by intelligence agents and police.
Alkeswani pointed out that a number of settlers tried to perform Talmudic rituals, but were confronted by defenders, including worshipers at the mosque, and were taken out through the gate of al-Selsela.
Alkeswani noted that the Israeli police has been blackmailing Palestinian worshipers and students by seizing their identities cards.
See 11/16/14 Women Assaulted as Al Aqsa Restrictions Reimposed and Settlers Tour Mosque with Armed Escort for further details.
Israeli army bulldozers, on Wednesday, demolished a Palestinian building and 20 commercial shops in occupied East Jerusalem under the pretexts that the structures had been built without permission.
"Four bulldozers backed by 300 Israeli troops forced their way into the Shuafat refugee camp early this morning and began demolishing 20 shops and one building," Mohamed Masalmeh, head of the refugee camp's popular committee, told Anadolu Agency.
He said that Israeli forces had prevented anyone from approaching the area since early morning.
2 dec 2014
Groups of fanatic Jewish settlers broke into the holy Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday morning under heavy police protection.
Press sources said that four small groups of settlers entered the holy site via the Maghareba Gate and toured its plazas with special police forces protecting them.
They noted that Aqsa guards and worshipers were deployed in various areas of the Aqsa compound to block any attempt by those settlers to perform Talmudic rituals inside the Islamic site.
Israeli policemen stationed at the gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued to confiscate IDs of young men and women wishing to enter the Mosque and return them on their way out.
Press sources said that four small groups of settlers entered the holy site via the Maghareba Gate and toured its plazas with special police forces protecting them.
They noted that Aqsa guards and worshipers were deployed in various areas of the Aqsa compound to block any attempt by those settlers to perform Talmudic rituals inside the Islamic site.
Israeli policemen stationed at the gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued to confiscate IDs of young men and women wishing to enter the Mosque and return them on their way out.
Senior Islamic Jihad official Khader Habib warned the Israeli occupation that his Movement's armed wing would strongly respond to its persistent aggressive actions in occupied Jerusalem.
In remarks broadcast on Monday by the Movement's radio, Habib affirmed that the Islamic Jihad could no longer remain silent on Israel's crimes and might resume its human bombing operations inside the Israeli occupied territories.
Describing Israel as the world's biggest terrorist entity, the Islamic Jihad official said that the options of the Palestinian people for resisting the occupation are various and the human bombing attacks are one of them.
He also deplored the passive regional position towards Jerusalem, and accused prominent Arab regimes of conspiring against the Palestinian resistance.
"The resistance project collides with the consensus of the Arab regimes on what they call the Arab initiative," he stated.
In remarks broadcast on Monday by the Movement's radio, Habib affirmed that the Islamic Jihad could no longer remain silent on Israel's crimes and might resume its human bombing operations inside the Israeli occupied territories.
Describing Israel as the world's biggest terrorist entity, the Islamic Jihad official said that the options of the Palestinian people for resisting the occupation are various and the human bombing attacks are one of them.
He also deplored the passive regional position towards Jerusalem, and accused prominent Arab regimes of conspiring against the Palestinian resistance.
"The resistance project collides with the consensus of the Arab regimes on what they call the Arab initiative," he stated.
Palestinian MPs Ahmad Atoun and Mohamed Toteh, both deported from Occupied Jerusalem, met Turkey’s ambassador to Palestine, Sakir Ozkan, in the West Bank city of Ramallah Monday.
The discussion focused on the mounting Israeli aggression on Islamic and Christian holy places, particularly holy al-Aqsa Mosque, a statement issued by Atoun’s office read.
The officials further deliberated over the prisoners’ cause and the violations perpetrated against Palestinian detainees in the Israeli occupation jails, including administrative detention and the apprehension of MPs, women, children and patients.
The Turkish ambassador reiterated Turkey’s deep fraternity-bonds with the Palestinian people and its continuous concern over Occupied Jerusalem and Islamic holy sites.
“Turkey spares no single effort in all forums to defend Palestinian interests and concerns,” he said.
The ambassador acclaimed the meeting with the Jerusalemite MPs.
The MPs, for their part, appreciated Turkey’s pro-Palestine positions and its unyielding back-up to the Palestinian cause.
The discussion focused on the mounting Israeli aggression on Islamic and Christian holy places, particularly holy al-Aqsa Mosque, a statement issued by Atoun’s office read.
The officials further deliberated over the prisoners’ cause and the violations perpetrated against Palestinian detainees in the Israeli occupation jails, including administrative detention and the apprehension of MPs, women, children and patients.
The Turkish ambassador reiterated Turkey’s deep fraternity-bonds with the Palestinian people and its continuous concern over Occupied Jerusalem and Islamic holy sites.
“Turkey spares no single effort in all forums to defend Palestinian interests and concerns,” he said.
The ambassador acclaimed the meeting with the Jerusalemite MPs.
The MPs, for their part, appreciated Turkey’s pro-Palestine positions and its unyielding back-up to the Palestinian cause.
1 dec 2014
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohamed Hussein and head of the higher Islamic authority Sheikh Ikrima Sabri warned of attempts by Jewish rabbis to question the Islamic and Arab civilization in occupied Jerusalem and the Muslims' right to the Aqsa Mosque.
They made their warning in the wake of the recent remarks by chief rabbi of the Israeli army Rafi Peretz, who questioned the legitimacy of the Muslims' presence at the Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Sabri condemned the rabbi's skeptical remarks in this regard as bankrupt, misleading and false.
Sheikh Sabri pointed out that the Jewish archaeologists, themselves, admitted that they had not found a single stone under or around the Aqsa Mosque associated with the Jewish Hebrew history, stressing that the history of Muslims is deeply rooted in the Palestinian land.
For his part, Sheikh Mohamed Hussein said that the rabbi's remarks contained racial and religious fallacies, affirming that Jerusalem is an Arab and Islamic city and the Aqsa Mosque belongs to the Muslims alone by divine ordinance.
He added that any Israeli claims about the history of the Aqsa Mosque reflect the Jews' delusional minds and their abortive attempts to falsify the history and civilization of the holy city.
They made their warning in the wake of the recent remarks by chief rabbi of the Israeli army Rafi Peretz, who questioned the legitimacy of the Muslims' presence at the Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Sabri condemned the rabbi's skeptical remarks in this regard as bankrupt, misleading and false.
Sheikh Sabri pointed out that the Jewish archaeologists, themselves, admitted that they had not found a single stone under or around the Aqsa Mosque associated with the Jewish Hebrew history, stressing that the history of Muslims is deeply rooted in the Palestinian land.
For his part, Sheikh Mohamed Hussein said that the rabbi's remarks contained racial and religious fallacies, affirming that Jerusalem is an Arab and Islamic city and the Aqsa Mosque belongs to the Muslims alone by divine ordinance.
He added that any Israeli claims about the history of the Aqsa Mosque reflect the Jews' delusional minds and their abortive attempts to falsify the history and civilization of the holy city.
30 nov 2014
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday rounded up a number of peaceful Palestinian sit-inners and worshipers inside and around al-Aqsa Mosque at a time when Israeli settler gangs desecrated such an Islamic holy compound.
A PIC correspondent quoted local sources as reporting that the Israeli occupation officers nabbed Palestinian female sit-inner Hanadi al-Halwani and youngster Tamer Shala’ta at the Asbat gate, moments before they dragged them to a nearby police station.
Earlier, on Saturday evening, the Israeli occupation forces came down heavily on a group of young non-violent Muslim worshipers, many among whom had been subjected to meticulous investigation on charges of frequent visits to holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Israeli border cops summoned me for interrogation because they found a screwdriver, one of my work kits, in my car,” Mohamed told the PIC.
“The Israeli occupation pushed us, Palestinians, up against the wall. . . . such terror acts . . . will lever dampen our spirits. Our daily visits and sit-ins staged in holy al-Aqsa will never come to an end,” he vowed.
At least 55 Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by troops of Israeli occupation special units and intelligence officers, reportedly stormed Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate on Sunday and defiled its courtyards.
One of al-Aqsa’s supervision personnel said the assailers performed a series of provocative rites and recitals, paying no heed to the sentiments of scores of Muslim worshipers who were praying in the Mosque.
A PIC correspondent quoted local sources as reporting that the Israeli occupation officers nabbed Palestinian female sit-inner Hanadi al-Halwani and youngster Tamer Shala’ta at the Asbat gate, moments before they dragged them to a nearby police station.
Earlier, on Saturday evening, the Israeli occupation forces came down heavily on a group of young non-violent Muslim worshipers, many among whom had been subjected to meticulous investigation on charges of frequent visits to holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Israeli border cops summoned me for interrogation because they found a screwdriver, one of my work kits, in my car,” Mohamed told the PIC.
“The Israeli occupation pushed us, Palestinians, up against the wall. . . . such terror acts . . . will lever dampen our spirits. Our daily visits and sit-ins staged in holy al-Aqsa will never come to an end,” he vowed.
At least 55 Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by troops of Israeli occupation special units and intelligence officers, reportedly stormed Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate on Sunday and defiled its courtyards.
One of al-Aqsa’s supervision personnel said the assailers performed a series of provocative rites and recitals, paying no heed to the sentiments of scores of Muslim worshipers who were praying in the Mosque.
“The occupation brings nothing but bitterness and destruction.” This was translated into action by the Israeli occupation Forces (IOF) in the last war against Gaza.
In the aggressive assault on Gaza, the IOF distorted Gaza’s beautiful image. Israel launched a brutal war, not only on the people, but also on the buildings and infrastructure of Gaza, on livestock and on farms, on schools, universities and hospitals.
Israel’s war was also a war on faith and religion, a war on tolerance. For, Israel destroyed and damaged more than 250 mosques in the beleaguered enclave.
Statistics speak
According to the Ministry of Endowments the number of the mosques attacked in 2014 is three times the number of those attacked in 2008-2009 offensive.
In 51 days, Israel totally destroyed 73 mosques and caused a partial damage to 197 others. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments in Gaza, Hassan al-Saifi, said that the re-building of the damaged mosques will cost about $50 million.
A war on cultural heritage and history
Al Mahkama is the name of one of the oldest mosques in Gaza that was destroyed by Israeli F16s. It was built in 1400 (550 years before the establishment of Israel) by Prince Bardabk Al Dawadar and was used first as a school and then as a court during the Ottoman rule.
The mosque consisted of 3 porticos full of domes. The octagon minaret is what remained after the Israeli bombardment. The entire mosque with its domes and trappings in a split second turned into rubble.
Al Thofordomri is another mosque that was razed to the ground by the Israeli warplanes. The more than 600 years old mosque was reduced to rubble after Israeli warplanes attacked it with F16’s missiles.
The historical mosque that was established by the Mamluk Prince Shehab Al Deen Ahmad Althofordomri was 600 square meters. Its 3 porticos with the horseshoe-shaped windows reflected its originality and uniqueness.
Israeli occupation also bombed Jabaliya’s most ancient mosque: al-Omari Mosque, which stood there for hundreds of years, surviving all wars and natural disasters.
False Claims
Israel claimed it targeted mosques used for military purposes, such as the stockpiling of weapons and as meeting points for the fighters. Hamas and other military movements denied that.
A commentator on Facebook said if they were used as military meeting points or for stockpiling weapons then “where are the dead fighters? Where is the wreckage of the alleged enormous arms caches?”
Not only places of worship
Targeting mosques touches a raw nerve in Palestine since they are seen not just as places of worship but as integral parts of the cultural and social fabric in Gaza.
Mosques play educational and social roles in the Gaza Strip. Mosques organize sports events such as soccer and table tennis tournaments.
Al-Aqsa is in danger, all mosques are
Not only in Gaza! The mosques of the West Bank are also in danger. On 12-11-2014 a group of Israeli colonial settlers attacked Othman mosque in Kufur Mughayyir, near Ramallah. They burned the mosque and wrote racist slogans on its walls. According to a report for the Arabic Center for Studies, this incident raised the number of attacked mosques in the West Bank to 14 mosques.
The situation in al-Aqsa mosque is no better. Almost on daily basis Israeli soldiers storm al-Aqsa esplanade to provide protection for the Jewish extremists who, with their break-ins into the holy site, defy Muslims’ feelings all over the world. And it has become almost a daily practice for Israeli military police to restrict the entry of Muslims for Friday and other prayers. Clashes usually erupt between IOF soldiers and Palestinian youths fighting for their right to worship and movement, leaving dozens of them injured and others detained.
Also, since January this year, the Israeli army closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil (Hebron) for 12 times and stopped the Azzan, the call for prayers, on several occasions.
The Israeli army frequently closes the Mosque on Fridays and Saturdays and will open it only for Jews to celebrate their many holidays.
Full-fledged Crime
Targeting religious and cultural sites constitutes a violation of international laws and conventions according to Article 4 of the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property.
Under this convention, all adequate precautions must be taken to avoid damage of cultural property in cases of war. It is also considered a criminal act under Article 8 of the International Criminal Court Statue that considers directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion a war crime.
Faith never dies
Targeting landmarks and historical places is a systematic Israeli practice to eradicate Palestinian existence and their affiliation with Palestine.
Palestinians insist that nothing will uproot them from their land, faith, and heritage, and that they will keep building what the occupation destroys.
In the aggressive assault on Gaza, the IOF distorted Gaza’s beautiful image. Israel launched a brutal war, not only on the people, but also on the buildings and infrastructure of Gaza, on livestock and on farms, on schools, universities and hospitals.
Israel’s war was also a war on faith and religion, a war on tolerance. For, Israel destroyed and damaged more than 250 mosques in the beleaguered enclave.
Statistics speak
According to the Ministry of Endowments the number of the mosques attacked in 2014 is three times the number of those attacked in 2008-2009 offensive.
In 51 days, Israel totally destroyed 73 mosques and caused a partial damage to 197 others. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments in Gaza, Hassan al-Saifi, said that the re-building of the damaged mosques will cost about $50 million.
A war on cultural heritage and history
Al Mahkama is the name of one of the oldest mosques in Gaza that was destroyed by Israeli F16s. It was built in 1400 (550 years before the establishment of Israel) by Prince Bardabk Al Dawadar and was used first as a school and then as a court during the Ottoman rule.
The mosque consisted of 3 porticos full of domes. The octagon minaret is what remained after the Israeli bombardment. The entire mosque with its domes and trappings in a split second turned into rubble.
Al Thofordomri is another mosque that was razed to the ground by the Israeli warplanes. The more than 600 years old mosque was reduced to rubble after Israeli warplanes attacked it with F16’s missiles.
The historical mosque that was established by the Mamluk Prince Shehab Al Deen Ahmad Althofordomri was 600 square meters. Its 3 porticos with the horseshoe-shaped windows reflected its originality and uniqueness.
Israeli occupation also bombed Jabaliya’s most ancient mosque: al-Omari Mosque, which stood there for hundreds of years, surviving all wars and natural disasters.
False Claims
Israel claimed it targeted mosques used for military purposes, such as the stockpiling of weapons and as meeting points for the fighters. Hamas and other military movements denied that.
A commentator on Facebook said if they were used as military meeting points or for stockpiling weapons then “where are the dead fighters? Where is the wreckage of the alleged enormous arms caches?”
Not only places of worship
Targeting mosques touches a raw nerve in Palestine since they are seen not just as places of worship but as integral parts of the cultural and social fabric in Gaza.
Mosques play educational and social roles in the Gaza Strip. Mosques organize sports events such as soccer and table tennis tournaments.
Al-Aqsa is in danger, all mosques are
Not only in Gaza! The mosques of the West Bank are also in danger. On 12-11-2014 a group of Israeli colonial settlers attacked Othman mosque in Kufur Mughayyir, near Ramallah. They burned the mosque and wrote racist slogans on its walls. According to a report for the Arabic Center for Studies, this incident raised the number of attacked mosques in the West Bank to 14 mosques.
The situation in al-Aqsa mosque is no better. Almost on daily basis Israeli soldiers storm al-Aqsa esplanade to provide protection for the Jewish extremists who, with their break-ins into the holy site, defy Muslims’ feelings all over the world. And it has become almost a daily practice for Israeli military police to restrict the entry of Muslims for Friday and other prayers. Clashes usually erupt between IOF soldiers and Palestinian youths fighting for their right to worship and movement, leaving dozens of them injured and others detained.
Also, since January this year, the Israeli army closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil (Hebron) for 12 times and stopped the Azzan, the call for prayers, on several occasions.
The Israeli army frequently closes the Mosque on Fridays and Saturdays and will open it only for Jews to celebrate their many holidays.
Full-fledged Crime
Targeting religious and cultural sites constitutes a violation of international laws and conventions according to Article 4 of the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property.
Under this convention, all adequate precautions must be taken to avoid damage of cultural property in cases of war. It is also considered a criminal act under Article 8 of the International Criminal Court Statue that considers directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion a war crime.
Faith never dies
Targeting landmarks and historical places is a systematic Israeli practice to eradicate Palestinian existence and their affiliation with Palestine.
Palestinians insist that nothing will uproot them from their land, faith, and heritage, and that they will keep building what the occupation destroys.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that a young man was injured after a number of fanatic Israeli settlers assaulted him at the Light-Rail Station in Bab al-’Amoud area, in occupied East Jerusalem. Settlers invade Al-Aqsa Mosque yards.
Local sources said that around six Israeli settlers assaulted Majdi Majed Najeeb, 26, as he was buying a ticket to board the train, heading for work in West Jerusalem.
The settlers started punching, kicking and beating the young man, before one of them struck him with an iron object, and fled the scene.
Najeeb was moved to the al-Makassed Islamic Hospital in the city suffering various cuts and bruises, especially in his legs.
He said light rail guards witnessed the attack but did not intervene, and allowed the assailants to leave the area.
On Sunday at dawn, dozens of Israeli extremists invaded the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the al-Magharba Gate, in occupied East Jerusalem, and conducted provocative acts against several Muslim worshipers.
Local sources said that dozens of soldiers accompanied nearly 50 settlers, in what was described as a “tour program,” before the settlers started shouting at Muslim worshipers, and demanded the army to remove them.
The soldiers also increased their deployment near the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and withheld the ID cards of dozens of women and young men, before allowing them to enter the mosque.
Local sources said that around six Israeli settlers assaulted Majdi Majed Najeeb, 26, as he was buying a ticket to board the train, heading for work in West Jerusalem.
The settlers started punching, kicking and beating the young man, before one of them struck him with an iron object, and fled the scene.
Najeeb was moved to the al-Makassed Islamic Hospital in the city suffering various cuts and bruises, especially in his legs.
He said light rail guards witnessed the attack but did not intervene, and allowed the assailants to leave the area.
On Sunday at dawn, dozens of Israeli extremists invaded the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the al-Magharba Gate, in occupied East Jerusalem, and conducted provocative acts against several Muslim worshipers.
Local sources said that dozens of soldiers accompanied nearly 50 settlers, in what was described as a “tour program,” before the settlers started shouting at Muslim worshipers, and demanded the army to remove them.
The soldiers also increased their deployment near the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and withheld the ID cards of dozens of women and young men, before allowing them to enter the mosque.
Chief rabbi of the Israeli army Brig. Gen. Rafi Peretz recently casted doubt on Muslims’ affiliation to their holy al-Aqsa Mosque and Occupied Jerusalem, claiming the site has no religious significance for Muslims.
Speaking during a fanatic sermon to the Israeli occupation soldiers, Peretz claimed: "Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran even once. Not at all. Not even once. You know what? It's not even hinted at.”
“You know what? 90% of Arabs don't know what's written in the Quran,” he added.
Observers have warned of the serious repercussions of such anti-Muslim statements, saying: “Their danger stems from the fact that they have been unleashed by a key religious figure.”
However, spokesperson for the occupation army recently alleged that Peretz's words were taken out of context and do not reflect his stance on the matter.
Speaking during a fanatic sermon to the Israeli occupation soldiers, Peretz claimed: "Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Quran even once. Not at all. Not even once. You know what? It's not even hinted at.”
“You know what? 90% of Arabs don't know what's written in the Quran,” he added.
Observers have warned of the serious repercussions of such anti-Muslim statements, saying: “Their danger stems from the fact that they have been unleashed by a key religious figure.”
However, spokesperson for the occupation army recently alleged that Peretz's words were taken out of context and do not reflect his stance on the matter.
