With the exception of the arson attack in 1969, the violations being committed by Israel this year against occupied Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque are unprecedented, said Qatar’s Al Sharq.

“The violations have reached a state in which guns have been fired on worshippers and protesters inside the mosque, damaging the mosque in the process without taking its sanctity into consideration. This is a dangerous development that can drive the region towards more bloodshed, with the responsibility falling first and foremost on Tel Aviv’s leaders and extremist forces. Netanyahu is instigating these forces instead of assuming his legal and moral responsibilities and taking the necessary procedures to deter them. The same moral responsibility also falls on western powers, particularly Israel’s strategic ally, the US, who have to exert pressure on Netanyahu’s government to stop his political manipulation and using religion as a pretext.

The UAE’s Al Khaleej said Israel’s violations against Al Aqsa Mosque are an attempt to feel the pulse for the next move it has to take for the Judaisation of the mosque.

“The move is meant to also feel the pulse of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and the world. However, first and foremost, Israel is mostly concerned with the Palestinian reaction, which will determine the reaction of others. As usual, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has once again been disappointed, because he often thinks that persecution, siege and killings will destroy the will of the Palestinian people. Netanyahu is playing a game of tension and fear, which are his only tools to remain in power in the Zionist entity and weaken the will of his enemies. This tension does not create an atmosphere that is suitable for negotiations.”

Commenting on the Haj stampede, pan-Arab paper Asharq Al Awsat said that using the tragic accident as a pretext to destroy the efforts of the people who provide services to the pilgrims is extremely unfair. “Saudi Arabia has continued to improve Haj services year after year and everyone who has performed Haj in recent years would testify to this. The Saudis themselves have never stopped demanding to improve the Haj season. Local Saudi media over the past years never hesitated to criticise problems and propose plans and the Saudi government has often welcomed these constructive efforts that aim to improve services to visitors to Makkah and Madinah. This is of course different from politicising emergency incidents. There is a difference between constructive criticism that aims to improve performance and those who are trying to dismiss these efforts in an attempt to make political gains.”

The government of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz will continue to make efforts towards eliminating difficulties and obstacles, allowing pilgrims to complete their rituals in a comfortable way, said Saudi Arabia’s Al Yaum.

“These efforts will continue despite what is being said by those who strive to question the accuracy or truth about these efforts, such as the leaders of Tehran, who are always attempting to level accusations towards Saudi Arabia in the case of an emergency, such as the incident that occurred in Mina. The incident in Mina is without a doubt a very painful one. However, the development of mechanisms and methods for coming Haj seasons will not stop, because the purpose of these developments is to ensure the comfort of pilgrims. Moreover, a review on plans implemented for this year’s and future Haj seasons will only lead to further improvements.”