10 April 2009

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Sheikh Kamal Khatib, the deputy head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied Palestine, warned that about 50,000 Jews gathered at dawn Wednesday a the Buraq courtyard and decided to organize a massive march towards the Aqsa Mosque and storm it on Thursday.

In a press statement to the PIC, Sheikh Khatib added that the Jews also decided during their meeting to attack the holy Mosque again next Thursday to cleanse it from Arabs, noting that a large number of Jewish groups approached yesterday for the first time the holy Dome of the Rock after they had been prohibited from doing that according to their beliefs

The Palestinian leader revealed that the Islamic Movement embarked on rallying Palestinians and getting prepared to defend the Aqsa Mosque against those extremist Jewish groups.

He called on all Arab, Islamic and popular institutions to organize marches and protests in support of the Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem.

In a related context, the association of Palestinian scholars warned, in a statement received by the PIC, of the Zionist settlers' escalating attempts to storm the Aqsa Mosque, asserting that these attempts reflect that the Zionist scheme to demolish the Aqsa Mosque has reached a critical stage that can never be tolerated or ignored

The association also said that the stealing of a historical rock block from the Aqsa Mosque to place it in front of the Knesset building is a serious development that entails whetting enthusiasm and organizing ranks to confront the Zionist evil scheme aimed to obliterate the Islamic landmarks and the Arab identity in Jerusalem.

The association appealed to the Moroccan monarch, who called recently for holding a meeting of the Jerusalem committee, to take practical steps to support the holy city and its people to be able to confront the Zionist racism and fascism.

For his part, Yemeni minister of endowments and guidance Hamoud Al-Hitar highlighted that the Muslim scholars did not assume their religious role towards the Aqsa Mosque as it should be, adding that there are several reasons behind this passivity, most importantly, the Arab official position which does not consider the Palestinian cause the topmost Arab issue.

Hitar underscored that Jerusalem is an Islamic and Arab capital and has a historical, religious and humanitarian status, calling on the international community to protect it for the best interest of all humanity.

The Yemeni official revealed that the Arab ministers of religious affairs will meet next month in Saudi Arabia to discuss a number of issues especially the Aqsa Mosque.

Meanwhile, a report issued Wednesday by the national coalition for the defense of Palestinian rights and a copy of which was received by the PIC, stated that occupied Jerusalem is part of the Palestinian lands which were occupied in 1967 and subject to the provisions of international law, the international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva conventions, despite Israel's refusal to respect these agreements.

The report said that Israel's confiscation of Palestinian lands and real estate, its destruction of citizens' homes and property and its expansion of the apartheid wall and settlements in occupied Jerusalem are illegal and violate the international law especially the fourth Geneva convention of 1949.