Israel accused of damaging mosque
Saturday 19 November 2005, 18:15 Makka Time, 15:15 GMT
The Mufti of Jerusalem has accused Israel of weakening the walls of the famous al-Aqsa mosque and obstructing restoration work at Islam's third holiest site.
Shaikh
Ikrama Sabri said the walls marking the boundaries of al-Haram
al-Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary) around al-Aqsa mosque and those around
the old city had been weakened by Israeli excavations.
Speaking to Aljazeera from Jerusalem, Shaikh Sabri, said: "Large visible cracks have formed in the walls due to ongoing Israeli excavation work since 1967."
The
Israeli occupation authorities are using heavy equipment, causing
severe damage to the ancient and sacred walls which date back a few
centuries, he said.
Israel held responsible
"We hold the Israeli occupation authorities totally responsible for the dilapidation of Jerusalem's walls," he said.
Shaikh
Sabri said some of the damaged walls had been renovated and restored by
the Islamic Waqf (religious endowment) foundation, but that its work
was being hampered.
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"We hold the Israeli occupation authorities totally responsible for the dilapidation of Jerusalem's walls"
Shaikh Ikrama Sabri,
Mufti of Jerusalem | "The Waqf has renovated some of the walls surrounding al-Aqsa mosque over the past few months," he said.
"The
Waqf is willing and ready to continue the renovations if the
Israeli authorities do not obstruct its work, as the materials needed
for renovations have to pass through the outer gates of al-Aqsa
mosque," he said.
Restrictions
The
outer gates of the old city and those of al-Aqsa mosque are manned by
Israeli occupation forces who inspect and search everything passing
through, and at times restrict movement to and from the area.
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Israeli forces man the entrances
to Al-Aqsa mosque | Shaikh
Sabri said the authorities had previously obstructed renovation work
conducted by the endowment and had prevented workers from transporting
raw materials to al-Aqsa mosque.
"They have obstructed our work under the pretext that they want to participate in the renovations," he said.
"However,
the Waqf department has rejected their participation, saying that
the management of al-Aqsa's affairs fall under its ambit.
"The
endowment department will not allow Israeli participation in the
renovations of al-Aqsa mosque and the walls surrounding it," he said.
"We have done our duty and will continue repairing the ancient and sacred al-Aqsa mosque walls."
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