Ramallah: Israeli colonists are planning to celebrate the Jewish Passover feast at Al Haram Al Sharif, the third holiest site in Islam, later this month.
The move is likely to exacerbate ongoing tensions at the holy site, where Palestinians accuse Israel of trying to change the status quo where Jews are allowed to visit the holy site but not perform religious rituals.
At least 29 ultraorthodox groups have launched a major campaign calling on Jews across Israeli-occupied territories to join in the celebrations from April 22 to 28, that will surely evoke an emotional and angry response from Palestinians.
Palestinians say the Israeli regime encourages such breaches of the status quo to change the facts on the ground and erase Muslim and Palestinian heritage and identity from occupied Jerusalem all together.
In preparation for the Passover festival, dozens of Israeli colonists raid Al Haram Al Sharif daily and pray there in direct violation to the 50-year-old status quo agreement.
Even some far-right Jewish groups, which have been previously banned from visiting the site, will be allowed to attend Passover celebrations.
On Tuesday, Israeli police arrested two Jewish men who attempted to illegally enter Al Haram Al Sharif disguised as Muslims.
Al Haram Al Sharif is built on top of the ancient remnants of the Temple Mount, a site sacred in Judaism, but was destroyed in the 4th century by the Romans, during their rule.
Al Haram Al Sharif site houses both the Al Aqsa Mosque which was originally commissioned to be built under Omar, the second Caliph in Islam in the 7th century, and the Dome of the Rock which houses the rock from which Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) ascended to heaven, according to Islamic teachings.
