Ramallah: Sheikh Abdul-Azim Salhab, head of the Muslim Waqf (Endowment) Council in Jerusalem, alerted that Israel’s order to close a gate of the Al-Aqsa Mosque might ignite “a religious war” within the area.
Salhab on Tue. informed the Voice of Palestine radio that the council got this week an Israeli court’s verdict that orders the closure of the Bab al-Rahma gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem.
“Such an Israeli action is an trying to curb Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, & this action may ignite a religious war within the area,” stated Salhab, who stressed that his own council refuses “the illegal Israeli court’s verdict.”
The Bab al-Rahma gate is the eastern gate that directly resulting in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is a holy website for Muslims across the globe, Xinhua press agency recorded.
For their own part, the Jews refer to the region as the “Temple Mount,” that has been the website of 2 Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during this 1967 Arab-Israel War. In 1980, Israel annexed the Arab eastern part of the city, however the Intl. society has denied to recognize it.
“We confirm that no power could close Bab a-Rahma, we warn over attacking the worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque because it’ll be a severe problem & going to ignite a religious war within the area,” Salhab stated.
He observed that Al-Aqsa Mosque & all its yards are Islamic & all Muslims have the right to pray in each part of it free from interference by Israeli decisions & Israeli courts’ verdicts.
In Gaza, the Islamic Hamas movement stated in an emailed press announcement that the closure of the Bab al-Rahma gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque “is a stupid call that aims in stealing the Muslim gate & turn it into a synagogue.”
Hamas named on the Arab League & the Company of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to move as fast as possible to block the Israeli danger to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.