Ramallah: The Israeli regime has finished installing high quality surveillance cameras in the old city of occupied East Jerusalem, with some of the cameras entirely covering Al Aqsa Mosque thus allowing Israeli guards to clearly identify the faces of all visitors.
At least two cameras have been installed on each of the gates through which Palestinian holders of official Israeli permits are allowed to pass, in addition to those installed on the gates of the mosque itself.
Dr Najeh Bakeerat, who heads the Science and Heritage Academy in Al Aqsa Mosque at the Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Department in occupied East Jerusalem, objected to the Israeli move and managed to prevent occupation forces from installing cameras in the halls, gardens and facilities of the mosque.
However, the occupation forces managed to forcibly install a camera next to an Israeli police station located within the mosque and on top of the roof of the Dome of the Rock.
Bakeerat told Gulf News that there was no longer freedom of worship as the movements of Palestinian visitors to the mosque were now restricted.
“Under unjustified security pretexts, the Israeli occupation forces have successfully installed cameras to limit to [a] minimum the movement of Palestinians in the old city and Al Haram Al Sharif,” he said.
“The Israelis do not want only undisputed security control over Al Haram Al Sharif, but plan to create a terrible security situation that would ultimately kick Palestinians out of the old city and Al Haram Al Sharif,” he added.
Bakeerat said the Jewish invasion of occupied East Jerusalem had been unstoppable, adding that Israel not only wanted to take over Arab and Muslim landscapes in the city but to also “kill and bury economic life there.”
“Israel desperately wants to present the entire city of Jerusalem, with its two parts [occupied East Jerusalem and the western part] as a solely Jewish city which is the capital of Israel.”
According to Bakeerat, Judaising occupied East Jerusalem and Al Haram Al Sharif is a life or death issue for the Israelis, thus making the removal of all signs of Muslim life there a top priority for them.
