(Al Ray archive image)
At least 100 Jewish Israelis, including students, toured the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday, escorted by Israeli police, while the Islamic Endowment (Waqf) condemned recent attempts by Israeli politicians to challenge the status quo at the holy site.
Israeli settlers entered through the Moroccan Gate and raided the compound, mosque known as the “Temple Mount” among Jews, in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, the Waqf, in charge of managing Al-Aqsa since Israel’s illegal annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, released a statement holding the Israeli government fully responsible for attempts by Knesset members to change the international agreements around Al-Aqsa, which prevents Jewish worship at the site.
The Waqf warned, according to Ma’an News Agency, the Israeli government against any move to change the existing agreements, emphasizing that the site remained a holy site for more than 2.6 billion Muslims around the world.
On Monday, Israeli Knesset members held a conference on the potential of challenging the status quo at Al-Aqsa in order to permit Israeli Knesset members visitations to the site. During the conference, Israeli parliament member Yuli Edelstein and three cabinet ministers initiated the “Temple Mount Lobby,” according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
See: 11/10/16 Israeli Politicians Enthusiastically Ally with the Temple Movement
