Home / News / Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque a ‘declaration of war’ - Abbas Published time: October 30, 2014 09:07 Get short URL The Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound behind the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, a densely-populated Palestinian neighbourhood on a steep hillside flanking the southern walls of Jerusalems Old City. (AFP Photo) Tags Clashes, Conflict, Israel, Religion The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has been closed to all worshipers for the first time since 1967. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called the closure a ‘declaration of war.’ Both Jewish and Muslim worshipers will be prohibited from visiting the site “until further notice,” Israel’s public security minister said. READ MORE: Hamas leader calls on Muslims to ‘defend’ Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque The closure of Al-Aqsa, Islam’s third holiest site, followed the shooting of a right-wing Jewish activist, Yehuda Glick, on Wednesday. Glick had advocated for greater Jewish access to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism where Al-Aqsa sits, along with the much revered Dome of the Rock. The Americna-born Glick was shot three times by an assailant who fled the scene on the motorcycle. On Thursday Israeli police shot dead Mutaz Hijazi in East Jerusalem, whom they claim was responsible for the attack on Glick. Israeli counter-terrorism officers said they came under fire after surrounding a residence in the Abu Tor neighborhood. Hijazi reportedly died in the subsequent shootout. Israeli security services later said that Hijazi had spent 11 years in an Israeli prison before being released in 2012. The shooting coincided with renewed clashes between Palestinians and Jewish security forces. Earlier in the week, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat had told municipal authorities to crack down on residents in East Jerusalem over a range of offenses in order to compel them to pressure Palestinian youth who have been clashing with police on a near daily basis. Palestinian youths from the Jalazoun refugee camp clash with Israeli security forces on a road at the entrance of the Jewish West Bank settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah, following a march by Palestinian demonstrators against Israeli restrictions on the Al-Aqsa mosque and against Jewish settlements in the West Bank on October 24, 2014 (AFP Photo) Earlier this month, Abbas warned his government would appeal to international law to deal with alleged Israeli “aggression” against Al-Aqsa. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas warned that his government will seek international “legal measures” to deal with Israeli “aggression” against Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque. Abbas accused Israeli settlers of attempting to “attack the mosque” and called for Jews to be banned from the site. Abbas statements mirrored comments made by Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, who earlier urged Muslims to “defend” the holy mosque after Israeli forces restricted entrance for Palestinians. Meshaal further accused Israel of trying to seize the site. Israeli authorities say all are free to worship at the the compound.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 09:49:02 +0000
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