Ramallah: More than 1,800 Jews raided the Muslim holy site Al Haram Al Sharif in occupied Jerusalem during the weeklong Jewish festival of Passover, Shaikh Ikrima Sabri, the Grand Muslim cleric of occupied Jerusalem, told Gulf News.
The raids are in direct violation of a status quo agreement that allows Jews to visit Al Haram Al Sharif but prohibits them from performing religious rituals there. Attempts by the Israeli regime to change the status quo have led to an escalation in violence and tension that have claimed the lives of 210 Palestinians and 33 Israelis and foreign nationals.
Incursions by Jews into the Al Haram Al Sharif premises have been the leading cause of violence in the occupied areas since last year. Palestinians say the Israeli regime is encouraging its citizens to violate the status quo agreement in a deliberate attempt to alter the ground reality and destroy aspects of Palestinian and Muslim identity in occupied Jerusalem.
“Israel does not respect the status quo agreement and constantly tries to change it to fit its own vision,” said Sabri said. “Jewish far-right groups appear to be stepping up the pace of their daily incursions as a part of a carefully designed plan made in full coordination with the Israeli government,” he said.
Sabri vowed that Palestinians and Muslims would confront violations and defend the holy site at any cost.
