Occupied Jerusalem, ALRAY - Israeli occupation authorities hinder the repairing and maintaining works inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and intervene in the affairs and powers of the Islamic Endowment Department in occupied Jerusalem in a try to impose its control over the whole area of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Few days ago, Israeli police hindered the repairing works of the corridor connecting Bab Al-Ghawanima to the Mughrabi Gate, which obstruct the worshipers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Employees of the Reconstruction Committee in Al-Aqsa are exposed to constant Israeli attacks, through prosecution, arrest and summoning for interrogation, not to mention deportation from Al-Aqsa for varying periods.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the most holy places for Muslims, It is the first of the two Qiblas and the third of the Two Holy Mosques, due to its importance and religious status, it is in constant and periodic need for maintenance and restoration work, in order to be available to receive thousands of worshipers throughout the week.
Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, who was the Grand Mufti of Palestine, stated that Israeli continued obstructing of repairing works in Al-Aqsa Mosque surroundings is a form of imposing Israeli sovereignty over the mosque, and paralyzed the work of the Reconstruction Committee of the Islamic Endowment.
He explained that Israeli measures constitutes interference in the administration and affairs of Al-Aqsa and a try to withdraws the authority from endowment’s, pointing out that this is not the first time that the restoration process has been obstructed, but rather they are continuing several aggressive measures against Al-Aqsa in order to impose sovereignty.
These Israeli measures have been started since 2017 after Israeli occupation authorities have failed to erect the electronic gates.
Sabri stressed that there is no deterrent or pressure from Arab countries or others on Israeli occupation to reverse its measures against Al-Aqsa and stop its interference in its affairs, and there is no political force that obliges "Israel" to stop its aggressive practices.
Israeli occupation authority deliberately bans implementing dozens of vital and important projects inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, and impose conditions on the entry of materials for the implementation of any project, director of Al-Aqsa, Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani stated.
He added that Israeli occupation authorities are blatantly interfering in the affairs of Al-Aqsa, although it is in dire need of daily maintenance, not to mention the projects that have been suspended for more than two years, the Reconstruction Committee cannot implement, given the permanent interference of the occupation in the affairs of the mosque and endowments.
According to Al-Kiswani, the occupation authorities seek by the disruption of restoration and maintenance projects, to control and dominate Al-Aqsa, so that the extremist settlers can show that they are disrupting these works and controlling the mosque.
On the role of the endowments in stopping the occupation’s interference, the director of Al-Aqsa Mosque said that they are in contact with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments in order to preserve and carry out its role regarding all Al-Aqsa affairs, whether construction or otherwise, and to communicate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the occupation to stop these violations and interference in the affairs of the mosque.
