07-23-2003, 05:47 AM
Jewish Settlers Break into Al-Aqsa Mosque While Israeli Soldiers Overlooking
OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM, Palestine, July 22, 2003 (IPC+ Agencies)-- Several groups of extremist Jewish settlers broke Tuesday into the Al-Aqsa Al-Sharif holy mosque in the Occupied East Jerusalem, for the purpose of praying inside, local Palestinian sources said.
A large number of Jewish settlers, under the eyes of Israeli police and soldiers, broke into the vicinity of Al-Aqsa mosque to perform their rituals inside the area where Muslims pray, the sources told IPC correspondent.
Tayseer Al-Tamimy, Palestinian Supreme Judge, told WAFA News Agency that the settlers' desecration of the mosque has provoked the Muslims’ feelings, instigating them to clash with the settlers.
Al-Tamimy said that such a Jewish attack on the second holiest Muslim mosque around the world, is a flagrant breach of the right to worship, as worshipping at Al-Aqsa mosque is exclusive for the Muslims and that Jews are prohibited to worship inside it.
He stressed that such an action contradicts with the teachings of religions, as double-worshipping is prohibited in one place, hereinafter, the Al-Aqsa Al Sharif Mosque.
“What Jewish settler groups are doing is backed by the Israeli government so as the underway peace efforts would be undermined and parties return back to the cycle of violence."
Al-Tamimy called on the Israeli government to resort to logic and avoid any further disasters in the region by acting in an acceptable way.
He also appealed to both Arab and Islamic nations, especially the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Jerusalem Committee, as well as the League of Arab States, to protect the Al-Aqsa Al Sharif Mosque.
On September 2000, the current Palestinian uprising (Intifada) sparked from the Al-Aqsa mosque –hence came the name "Al-Aqsa Intifada- because Israeli, now Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, despite President Arafat’s warning, insisted on entering the mosque, accompanied with 5,000 Israeli troops and a number of Israeli political hardliners.
Also, such a mosque possesses a great religious value to the Muslims; it is considered to be the third holiest Muslim mosque, for- before turning the direction of prayers "Qibla" into the city of Mecca, now in Saudi Arabia, upon the commandment of God - it used to be the place where Muslim worshippers faced when they wanted to perform their prayers.
http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_e/ipc_e-1/e_News...003-07/082.html