Al Quds, Al Aqsa, the center of the conflict, the beating heart of Palestine, yesterday returned again to the forefront of the conflict and will remain so till the end of the Israeli occupation. The sacrifices are great, but for the sake of Al Quds, Al Aqsa, everything is affordable.
Jerusalem as a focal point within the Palestine cause is witnessing a record number of arrest on a monthly basis, as the city is witnessing strong confrontations with the occupation forces, under extensive aggressions, escalation of intrusions carried out by the occupation army and settlers into Al Aqsa Mosque. The Palestinian Prisoners Club revealed yesterday that more than 1,530 Palestinians including children, women, elderly were arrested by the Israeli occupation forces in the occupied Jerusalem since the beginning of this year. Under heavy protection by the Israeli occupation police, more than 500 settlers stormed yesterday the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque compound from Al Mugharbah Gate, and the police forces closed Al Qibli prayer hall with iron chains and besieged the worshipers inside it.
The settlers stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and carried out provocative tours, while thousands of Israeli extremist settlers gathered at Bab Al Amoud chanting “Death to Arabs”, paraded through the heart of the main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Old City, in a show of force that risked setting off a new wave of violence in the tense city.
The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli flagrant violation of the international law and a part of the ongoing attempts to change the historical and legal status quo of Al Aqsa Mosque, impose temporal division of the mosque and its continuation reveals the intention of the occupation to direct the conflict into a religious war.
As usual, Israel undermines the international law and international resolutions, in particular UN Security Council resolutions, which consider Jerusalem part of the territories occupied since 1967. This Israeli arrogance is basically because of Israel considers itself above the law and enjoys full protection from the superpower of today’s world. The international community must not adopt double standards and bear its legal and moral responsibilities to end the phenomenon of extremist settlers, and end desecration of Islamic holy sites as a tool for political power struggles in Israel.
The extremists’ incursions and provocative behaviour under protection of the Israeli police will not grant peace and stability for the entire region and the road to security and peace passes through fulfilment of the rights of the Palestinians to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The blessed Al Aqsa Mosque is a place devoted to worship and purely for Muslims whether Israel likes or not and will remain forever so.
