Arabs urged to discuss Israeli escalation

Ramallah: The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) called yesterday for an emergency meeting of Arab ministers of Islamic affairs and Awqaf under the umbrella of the Arab League to discuss the Israeli escalation in occupied East Jerusalem.

The call comes after the closure of Al Maghrabi gate bridge which leads to Al Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and the ministers are urged to come up with new, serious and effective mechanisms to protect the holy city that is in jeopardy. Speaking to Gulf News, Mahmoud Al Habbash, Palestinian Minister of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, said: "Al Aqsa Compound needs Arab and Muslim support," he said.

"Israel does not have any kind of right to get involved either directly or indirectly in the affairs of occupied Jerusalem. This is purely an Arab and Muslim issue," he said. "Al Aqsa Compound is located in occupied East Jerusalem which the international law regards as occupied territories, where Israel as an occupying force cannot act religiously or historically," he stressed.

"Palestinian-Jordanian coordination is currently on its highest level to tackle the issue of protecting the identity and character of the holy site," he said.

In a related incident yesterday morning, Israeli colony activists broke into the Qasr Al Yahud Christian baptismal site along the Jordan border to protest against Muslim opposition to the closure of a ramp leading to the Al Aqsa mosque compound sending a message to Amman to keep out of Al Aqsa Mosque affairs.

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