Jerusalem Municipality officially approves a bridge construction leading to al Mughrabi Gate

Thursday May 22, 2008 05:17 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Regional Committee for Construction and Planning which belongs to the Jerusalem Municipality officially approved on Wednesday the construction of a planned bridge which leads to Al Mughrabi Gate  “The Moroccan Gate”,  one of the Gates of the Al Asqa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The approved bridge would be 95 meters long. The committee also approved a request to preserve historic architecture in the area.

The Al Aqsa Foundation for Rebuilding Islamic Holy Sites considered the construction of the bridge as one of the Israeli illegally practices against the Al Aqsa Mosque. The foundation also said that the Committees’ approval to look into legal appeals against the construction is “only a play”.

The foundation added that the actual construction of the bridge did not stop since February 6, 2007, and that the final approval is only one of the actual implementation processes. It also said that the bridge is part of Israeli plans to inflict danger to the foundations of the Al Aqsa Mosque and is part of the ongoing Israeli attempts to demolish the Arab and Islamic historical and religious sites in the Holy city.  

The foundation called on the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to protect the mosque by keeping ongoing presence there in order to bar the implementation of the Israeli plan. It also voiced an appeal to the Arab and Muslim Countries and people to be actively involved in protecting Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and religious Affairs considered the approval of the construction of the bridge as another Israeli assault against the Muslims and their holy places.

It added that it filed an appeal against the destruction of the Mughrabi historic gate in Jerusalem since this is considered an attack against the mosque.

The Al Aqsa Foundation showed maps and documents which it obtained from undisclosed sources revealing an Israeli plan to continue the destruction through the Mughrabi Gate and in areas that contain Islamic monuments, the Palestine News Network reported.

The foundation added that the wall on the western side of the Al Aqsa Mosque is an important part of the holy place but will be demolished in the process.

It also said that Israel plans to add more settlers and settlement constructions in addition to a synagogue in the area on the expense of the Islamic constructions, the Palestine News Network added.

jerusalem | holy sites | news report saed at imemc dot org