Jews offered money to pray at Al Haram Al Sharif in Jerusalem

Ramallah: An Israeli colonist group is offering to pay Jews to pray at Al Haram Al Sharif, in defiance of the Israeli government’s recent commitment to prohibit Jewish prayer there.

Under a longstanding status-quo agreement, Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the Muslim holy site. However, Jewish groups have increased their visits this past month, angering Palestinians who say the Israeli government is encouraging such actions in an attempt to change the status-quo and Judaise occupied east Jerusalem.

The Templte Institute is offering 2,000 Shekels to Jews who defy the ban.

“The announcement enjoys the full support of the Israeli government which uses such right wing organisations as a mere cover to pave the way and encourage Jewish worshipers to pray at the holy shrine,” said Fakhri Abu Diyab, who heads the committee in defense of Jerusalem (occupied).

Palestinians living in occupied Jerusalem say the Israeli government has double standards and promotes racist policies. The Israeli government has recently outlawed Al Murabiteen (Defenders of Al Haram Al Sharif) from protecting the holy site from Jewish raids.

“The Israeli government does not take any legal action against this Jewish group which incites violence and goes directly against the Israeli law,” Abu Diyab told Gulf News.

“Incentives awarded by both the Jewish group and the Israeli government directly encourage the Jewish worshipers to pray at Al Haram Al Sharif even before the understandings and agreements with Jordan and the PNA are even put in place.”

“Jewish worshipers are neither arrested nor interrogated. They are not barred from re-entering the site. There is no blacklist for them,” he said.

Mazen Abu Qalbain, an activist and spokesman for Al Murabiteen in Al Aqsa Mosque said Jewish worshipers have only reduced the numbers of their groups raiding the holy shrine, but the raids are still taking place daily.

At least 30 Israeli colonists raided Al Haram Al Sharif early Wednesday, prayed and performed Talmud rituals near the Chain Gate under tight security provided by Israeli occupation forces.

“Those colonists prayed before the eyes of the Israeli police which never took action against them.”