Sheikh Salah: ending the occupation will end threats facing Jerusalem

Sunday September 28, 2008 22:31 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC & Agencies

Chairman of the Israeli-Arab Islamic movement inside the Green Line (Israel), Sheikh Raed Salah, said on Sunday that ending the Israeli occupation in Jersusalem will solve 'dangers' facing the holy city.

Sheikh Raed Salah

In a statement sent to media outlets, Sheikh Salah maintained that the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories would perpetuate and increase the dangers that the holy city of Jerusalem is currently facing.

The Islamic leader referred to Israeli excavations underway beneath the Al-Aqsa mosque of Jerusalem, which is the third holiest place for Muslims worldwide.

He accused Israeli authorities of following what he termed 'malicious means' to evacuate the city of Palestinians, turning it into an exclusively Jewish city.

He considered such Israeli moves as a part of Israel's genocide against the indigenous Palestinian residents of the occupied east Jerusalem.

As for the Israeli excavations, Salah revealed that Israelis have recently erected a large web of tunnels right beneath the Alaqsa mosque. He pointed to a recent report by UNESCO that refers to the use of chemical substances to dig those tunnels.

Israel occupied the holy city of Jerusalem in June 4,1967 and since then Israel has enhanced its Israeli presence through building settlements and through the demolition of Palestinian homes.

Salah has repeatedly warned of what he says is Israel's drive to topple the Al-Aqsa mosque of Jerusalem under 'alleged Jewish religious pretexts.' Also worthy of note, Israel has previously imprisoned Salah.

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