Palestinians warn Israel over synagogue move
Palestinians clash with Israeli police as tension intensifies over synagogue move
Dubai: Angry Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, while thousands demonstrated across Gaza following increased tension over the rededication of a synagogue in the old city of Occupied Jerusalem and Israel colony-building plans.
Palestinians hurled stones at police and burned tyres in several parts of the city. Israeli police responded with firing tear gas, and rubber bullets; many demonstrators were arrested.
At least 40 Palestinians were injured, according to Reuters. A police spokesman said nearly 3,000 officers were put on high alert after Hamas called on Palestinians to "regard Tuesday [yesterday] as a day of rage against the occupation’s [Israel's] procedures in [occupied] Jerusalem against Al Aqsa mosque," Hamas said in a statement.
"Martyrs by the millions, onwards to Jerusalem," the Palestinians chanted during demonstrations in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Many of them waved Palestinian flags and held up posters of the Dome of the Rock. Palestinian politicians warned of grave consequences if Israel continues it provocative policies.
Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khalid Mesha’al said the reopening of the synagogue by Israel could lead to an "explosion" in the Middle East.
Hatem Abdul Qader, who was in charge of Jerusalem in Mahmoud Abbas’ government, said: "This synagogue will be a prelude to violence and religious fanaticism and extremism".
Many Palestinians and Arabs fear the rededication of the synagogue, which is only few hundred metres away from the Al Haram Al Sharif, is part of an Israeli plan to destroy the mosques [Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock] and build a Jewish temple on its ruins. The compound is the third holiest site for Muslims Abdullah Kannan, Secretary General of the Jordanian Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs, said extremist Jews’ calls to storm the Al Aqsa compound fuel Arab and Muslim fears.
"We warn against barring Palestinians from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque and allowing the Jewish extremists from entering the Al Haram Al Sharif compound,” Kannan told Gulf News. “If this happens, a gate of hell will open, and we don’t know who will close it.”
The US-Israel crisis continued to deepen after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not curb construction of homes for Jews in occupied Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman too weighed in saying any ban on Jewish building in [occupied] East Jerusalem is unacceptable.
"There can’t be a situation where only Jews are prohibited from building in [occupied] Jerusalem, while Arabs are allowed to both build and buy,” Lieberman said in an interview with Israel Radio.
Officials in Washington said US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who was scheduled to arrive in the region yesterday for discussions with Israelis and Palestinians, has delayed his departure.
- With inputs from agencies
