Ramallah: The Israeli regime’s tourism ministry is considering opening a new gate at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound so Israeli colonists visiting the holy shrine can bypass long queues at the site.
The Israel Army Radio station has reported that the ministry is considering opening Al Qataneen Gate (the Cotton Merchant’s Gate) to Jewish visitors. As of now, Al Magharibah (Moroccan) Gate is the only point of entrance for Jews.
According to the radio report, the long lines of Jews at Al Magharibah Gate have prompted the change being mooted.
Yehuda Glick, head of the LIBA Movement for Freedom of Movement on Al Aqsa compound, said that the status quo must be changed urgently.
“There are eleven entrances to Al Aqsa Compound, ten of them open to Muslims but only one open to Jews who want to enter the holy shrine. Each day the numbers waiting in line increase... this gate does not meet the needs,” he said.
The Israeli Tourism Ministry announced that its proposal to open additional gates for Jews to Al Aqsa compound was drafted last January, but the ministry revealed it has not advanced with the plan due to opposition from security forces, which argued the change would require a heavy increase in the Israeli occupation’s security presence there. The forces warned that the move would also spark rioting and violence by Palestinian visitors to the holy shrine.
Al Aqsa compound has been controlled and run by the Jordanian Waqf since Israel occupied and annexed the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967. Under the Waqf laws, Jews are not allowed to pray at the holy site. A provocative visit made in 2000 by then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Al Aqsa holy compound sparked the second Palestinian Intifada known as Al Aqsa Intifada.
‘Unilateral plan’
The visits, prayers and rituals of the Jews who enter the holy shrine escorted by Israeli Police and armed forces spark almost daily clashes. Muslim worshippers usually act in defence of their holy site, which is at the same time the holiest site in Judaism. Jews believe that the Temple of Solomon is buried below the mosque, and fanatical Jews have called for the destruction of the mosque to rebuild the temple.
Palestinians believe that the Israelis want and are working on dividing the mosque the same way they successfully split the Ebrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
The Palestinian Presidency has harshly criticised the Israeli plan to open an additional gate to Jewish visitors.
In a statement, the presidency in Ramallah termed the plan as unilateral, condemned, unacceptable and categorically rejected. “This unilateral plan destroys every possible chance to bring the peace process to its normal track,” said the presidential statement. “The holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem are a red line that should not be crossed under any circumstances, where nobody is even allowed to touch or address those holy sites.”
