The Yusufiya Cemetery is located north of the al-Rahma Gate cemetery adjacent to the eastern wall of Occupied Jerusalem. It has been targeted for years by Israeli excavations which reached archaeological structures close to the doorstep of the al-Asbat Gate.
In this context the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) demolished the wall of the cemetery adjacent to the al-Asbat Gate and removed its archaeological stairs in addition to the stairs leading to the martyrs’ cemetery. Such demolition fell in line with a set of overlapping Israeli plans which had been prepared a long time ago.
In 2014 the IOA prevented burial in the cemetery’s northern area and removed twenty graves of Jordanian soldiers who were martyred in 1967 in what is known as the Cemetery of the Martyrs and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
Obliterating history
The Council of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Holy Places confirmed that the Yusufiya cemetery and its area is one of the most important and prominent Islamic cemeteries in Jerusalem city. It contains the remains of Jerusalemites renowned scholars and the Mujahideen as well as hundreds of martyrs who defended this holy land with their blood ever since the era of Caliph Omar who took over control and keys of the holy city from its inhabitants more than 14 centuries ago.
The council pointed out that the IOA municipality has been working for a long time to besiege the cemetery and surround it with Judaizing projects paths and Talmudic parks along the eastern wall of Jerusalem and adjacent to the cemetery to hide the features of the original paths and historical sites surrounding the cemetery.
Judaization of identity
Nasser Al-Hadmi the head of the Jerusalem Committee for Resisting Displacement affirmed that the demolished stairs lead to the monument of the Unknown Soldier.
Hadmi underlined that Jerusalem is subjected to dangerous Judaization projects. In 2007 the IOA issued the Zamosh plan which includes establishing outposts in the eastern part of Jerusalem around the so-called Holy Basin which extends from Wadi Al-Joz to Silwan.
He warned that according to the plan one of these outposts is in al-Asbat Gate and extends to a plot of land in al-Rahma Gate. It also includes constructing a five-story building that is only 50 meters away from the walls of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He said that the IOA acts as if it owned sovereignty over all these areas and does whatever it wants and does not accept interference from any other authority especially the Islamic Endowments.
Hadmi stressed that Jerusalem needs real leadership that works to protect the city and unites the citizens’ efforts to defend it.
The IOA had recently demolished the stairs leading to the al-Asbat Gate which leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The IOA is trying to impose radical changes on the landmarks of the Holy City that would eventually lead to implementation of its plans of annexation and Judaization.
