Israel in bid to destroy Arab cemetery in Occupied Jerusalem

Ramallah: Israel may soon issue an order to demolish an historic Islamic cemetery near Al Khalil Gate of Al Aqsa Mosque Compound. The announcement is pending an order from an Israeli court on the issue.

“The Jerusalem municipality and the lands department wants to demolish the cemetery and earmark the area to use it for other purposes, but the Arab residents of (Occupied) Jerusalem will not keep their mouths shut,” Zeyad Al Hamouri, who heads the Jerusalem Centre for Political and Economic Rights, told Gulf News.

He explained that the ‘Ma’aman Allah Islamic and Historic Cemetery’ includes about 200 tombs, including some for the companions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), historic figures, as well as the tombs of Muslim and Christian Arab families who have lived in Jerusalem for generations.