RAMALLAH, Palestine, May 20 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian Authority’s Wakfs and Religious Affairs Ministry, slammed on Sunday, an Israeli minister’s tour of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, urging the international community to stop Israel’s measures that “harm the sacredness of the Al-Aqsa Mosque” in Jerusalem.
On Sunday, Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, was among a group of Israeli settlers who carried out a tour of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinian ministry said that, Ariel’s move “is a clear challenge to Muslims in Palestine and in the Islamic world during the month of Ramadan.”
Palestinians described the tour as “provocative,” complaining of a series of Israeli security measures that limit the access of Palestinian worshippers into the Islamic site, while police troops are seen facilitating the access of settler groups into it.
Ariel and dozens of settlers toured the compound in groups, only hours after Israeli police forcibly evicted hundreds of Muslim worshippers from the holy site, it said.
According to a 1967 agreement between Israel and Jordan, the custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, non-Muslim worshippers can visit the place but are prohibited to pray there.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Jewish people refer to it as the Temple Mount, while it is considered the third holiest site for Muslims.– NNN-WAFA
