Palestinian Muslim religious authorities have vowed to resist new Israeli attempts to "usurp" Islamic holy places in East Jerusalem.
Sheikh Ikrema Sabri, Mufti of Jerusalem, said Thursday Muslims in Palestine would fight fiercely to thwart the latest Israeli intentions to allow Jews entry into the al Aqsa Mosque for the purpose of establishing a right to pray.
“We first rely on God, and then on our people, to thwart these sinister attempts,” said Sabri in an interview with the al-Jazeera Satellite Television.
Sabri said the Palestinians would not count much on support from Arab and Islamic states, saying past experience taught Palestinians not to count on Arab and Islamic support. “We don’t want them to intervene…nothing positive could come from them. We will do what we can, and God will help us.”
Sabri’s remarks came hours after the Israeli internal security minister, Tzahi Hanegbi pledged to allow Jews to “visit” the al Aqsa Mosque esplanade. The Israeli minister claimed that “Jews had the right to visit” the site. (Albawaba.com)
