Ramallah: The Christian-Muslim Commission for support of Jerusalem and holy sites has warned it will approach UN institutions and the Human Rights Council to lodge a complaint against the Israeli colonist association Yishai which has revealed its plans for a new synagogue in the heart of Al Aqsa Compound in occupied Jerusalem.
Dr Hanna Eisa, the Secretary General of the commission, claims that Yishai has secretly obtained official permits for the construction in the third holiest site for Muslims.
The new synagogue is expected to be built in the southwestern area of Al Aqsa Mosque and in front of Al Marwani prayer area.
“This is a serious plan aimed at planting Jewish existence within the Muslim sacred area,” Dr Eisa told Gulf News.
Dr Eisa said that the construction of the synagogue will be the initial step to put in action an Israeli draft law where the days of the week will be divided between the Muslim and Jewish worshipers at the Al Aqsa Compound
“Certain days of the week will be solely granted for the Jewish worshipers and on them Muslims will not be allowed into Al Aqsa Compound, just the way the Ebrahimi mosque of Hebron is currently run,” he said, adding that the time granted to Jewish worshipers will be increased over a short period of time, thereby limiting the time
Muslims visit Al Aqsa Compound to the Friday prayers. “This is a serious plan that should be confronted on all levels including the official and the public,” he stressed.
Israel currently considers the open areas of Al Aqsa Compound as public parks which are open to Jewish visitors and an official decision to make the new synagogue a reality is expected shortly.
“A total of 104 Jewish synagogues are spread around Al Aqsa Compound, and the Israelis are now entering the sacred site as well,” he said, adding that the current conditions in the Arab world make the Zionist dream of taking over Al Aqsa Compound and turning it into a major synagogue easier and more possible. He said that the issue of the new synagogue has been addressed with the Jordanian authorities who are the custodians of the sacred sites in the holy city.
He said that Israeli excavations under Al Aqsa Compound reached 18 meters under the ground, and that they now have available several halls accommodating 5,000 people. By 2020, Israelis will have completed a big underground city under Al Aqsa Compound accommodating six million people.
