While Palestinians are distracted by meeting in Mecca, Israeli forces surround Al Aqsa Mosque and conduct excavations

Maan News Date: 06 / 02 / 2007 Time: 10:00

Jerusalem - Ma'an - The Israeli occupation forces closed the gates to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the old city of Jerusalem and deployed troops intensively in the streets and the area of Magharba (Moroccan or 'Dung') Gate on Tuesday morning.

Ma'an's correspondent reported that the Israeli forces began the operation in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in an attempt to prevent Palestinians from entering the mosque.

The Israeli forces deployed hundreds of policemen and soldiers in the area of the old city and prevented Palestinians from approaching the area or entering the old city, and the students from going to their schools inside the city.

The higher Fatwa Council expressed worries that the Israeli authorities will demolish part of the Magharba gate, taking advantage of the internal strife between Fatah and Hamas and the Palestinian focus on the meeting in Mecca on Tuesday, as a distraction, while they execute plans to bulldoze Palestinian areas in east Jerusalem and continue to judaize Jerusalem.

Palestine Supreme Judge Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi called on Palestinians to go to the mosque in order to protect it from Israeli bulldozers. He also called upon Arab and Muslim countries to immediately move to defend the mosque. He told Al Jazeera satellite channel that the "Israelis are threatening the mosque and endangering it."

Tamimi added that Israel is taking advantage of the internal strife in the Palestinian territories to execute plans in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Israeli bulldozers have started demolishing a wooden fence and two rooms near the Wailing Wall after days of excavating a new tunnel under the holy Al Aqsa Mosque.

Ma'an's reporter said that the Israeli police force was deployed intensively in the old city as a precautionary measure. The Israeli police said that the work is intended to support a stairwell that leads to Al Magharba gate, which was weathered by a snow storm two years ago.

The Israeli forces prevented all Palestinians under the age of 45 from entering the old city or the mosque to avoid any confrontation between angered Palestinians and the Israeli forces. According to the Islamic Waqf administration, two halls beneath the mosque will threaten the mosque's foundations, if they are removed.

Excavation director in the Israeli authority of excavations, told Al Jazeera satellite channel that the excavations are not in the mosque and will not threaten it, he said it is a simple maintenance operation.

Imam of the Al Aqsa Mosque, Dr Yousef Salama, called upon Arabs and Muslims throughout the world to "protect the mosque from the threat to its foundations and Israeli plans to demolish it and build an alleged temple."

Salama warned of the consequences of this act, saying that "almost a billion-and-a-half Muslims in this world are watching Israeli acts and their hearts and eyes are looking at the holy mosque." He condemned Israeli aggressions against the mosque and said that "Israel has decided to demolish the mosque, even the Israeli daily newspaper, Haaretz, said that the settlers finished making a golden lantern in 2001 to put in the temple after it is built on the ruins of the mosque."

Salama added that "the relationship between Muslims and the mosque should be based on a strong faith," he called on Arabs and Muslims to go out into the streets to demonstrate against Israeli acts in the city .

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