JERUSALEM – The Islamic Waqf (Endowment), which is in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said Tuesday it was adamant about its decision not to encourage Muslim worshippers to enter the holy compound passing through the newly installed metal detectors.
General Director of the Jordanian-run Islamic Waqf, Azzam Khatib, said during a sit-in for Waqf officials and staff outside Bab al-Majlis (Al-Nather), one of the gates to Al-Aqsa compound, that Muslim worshipers should not accept the new Israeli police measures for entering the Muslim holy place.
Police installed on Sunday metal detectors outside two gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented worshippers from entering the mosque without going through them. Muslims have rejected the Israeli measures and have been holding the daily prayer ritual outside the gates causing tension with the police that often end up with clashes.
“We will not enter Al-Aqsa through the metal detectors, which are not acceptable for religious, Islamic and moral reasons. This is our position and we are not going to go back on it until they are removed from Al-Aqsa,” he told the crowd.
While Muslim entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque has been restricted by the Israeli police since Friday following an attack that left three alleged Palestinian attackers and two Israeli policemen dead prompting hundreds of people to perform the prayers five times a day outside the mosque compound, police is facilitating entry of fanatic Jewish groups into the mosque.
Officials said police has prevented Waqf employees, mainly the guards, from entering the compound, leaving tours by Jewish fanatics and other visitors to go by unmonitored.
(WAFA)
