JERUSALEM: As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan nears its end, Israeli forces have increased their incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and stepped up arrests of Palestinian citizens in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi Al-Hadmi, has appealed to the global community to prevent Israel’s “dangerous” escalation in Jerusalem amid an increase in violence and arrests.
On Wednesday, Israeli police and border guards stormed the Dome of the Rock courtyard in Masjid Al-Aqsa to remove Palestinian flags for the second time that day. Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli forces first stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque at dawn, removing and confiscating a banner hanging on a pillar. But the first activity failed to lead to the lowering of the Palestinian flag.
Then the Israeli authorities returned to storm the mosque, using stairs to confiscate the flag. In addition, Israeli authorities rounded up 13 people in East Jerusalem in dawn raids.
Restrictions on prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan
Al-Hadmi condemned recent developments in Jerusalem, referring especially to attacks on worshippers and restrictions on prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, and in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Holy Saturday.
He also warned of extensive settlement plans, including demolishing dozens of commercial establishments in the Wadi Al-Joz neighbourhood, implementing the so-called “Silicon Valley” plan, and building hundreds of settlement units on Palestinian land in the city.
Head of the Higher Presidential Committee on Churches Affairs in Palestine, Ramzi Khoury, called on Christian churches worldwide to put pressure on Israeli authorities to end incursions. Khoury said that Israeli authorities have “no right” to impose restrictions or prevent worshippers from practising their religion. He also called on churches around the world to “put pressure on governments” to preserve what remains of Palestine’s Christian community.
Israeli settlers, protected by soldiers, destroyed several shops in the old vegetable market called “Al-Hisba” in the Old City of Hebron to make way for new settlement units. On Wednesday, the Israeli army attacked the entrance to Aqabat Jaber camp, south of Jericho, injuring several Palestinian citizens.
Almost $1 billion from the future budget will be allocated to widen roads leading to Beit El settlement and between the Ariel junction and the Tapuah (Za’atra) junction, develop the Qalandia settlement road, the eastern ring road in Jerusalem, the Alfei Menashe settlement road, and rehabilitate Route 60, which crosses the West Bank. The multi-year plan also includes developing other settlement roads near Nablus, Salfit, and Qalqilya.
Palestinian political analyst Ghassan al-Khatib stated that the Israeli government’s actions are part of their promise to voters to fully annex Jerusalem. He added that successive Israeli governments had been frustrated by their inability to annex the city and suppress Palestinian nationalism.
The Israeli government’s actions have sparked outrage from Palestinian officials and international organisations, with calls for an immediate end to the violence and incursions. The Palestinian Authority has called on the United Nations to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has also expressed concern over the situation and called for calm.
