Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Israel closure of al-Aqsa mosque ramp 'a declaration of war'

Israel's closure of a wooden access ramp to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound is tantamount to a declaration of war on Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, Hamas has warned.

Israel closure of al-Aqsa mosque ramp 'a declaration of war'
A wooden footbridge leading up from the Western Wall to the sacred compound where the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Old City Photo: REUTERS


Israel on Sunday night closed the Mughrabi ramp leading to the mosque compound in the Old City over public safety concerns in a move which was immediately condemned by Palestinians officials and Jordan, which is the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
"This is a serious step that shows the Zionist scheme of aggression again the Al-Aqsa mosque," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said.
"This is a violent act that amounts to a declaration of religious war on the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem," he said, calling for "Arab and Muslim mobilisation to stop this serious event."
Jerusalem city council says the ramp poses a fire hazard and could collapse onto the women's prayer section by the Western Wall.
But Muslim leaders fear its demolition could destabilise the mosque compound and accuse Israel of failing to coordinate its renovation with Waqf, which oversees Islamic heritage sites. Read the rest on: The Telegraph

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