Head of the Jerusalem International Foundation in Palestine Ahmad Abu Halabiya on Sunday said that the Israeli authorities do not have the right to interfere in the administration of the facilities of al-Aqsa Mosque.
Abu Halabiya stressed in a statement that al-Aqsa Mosque is a purely Islamic site and that the Islamic Waqf is the only body authorized to manage its affairs.
He described the decision issued by the Israeli police chief to permanently close Bab al-Rahma building as a blatant interference aimed at gradually establishing Israeli control over the facilities of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Palestinian official pointed out that the building was closed in 2003 based on an Israeli police order that is renewed annually without any legal justification.
Israeli authorities closed Bab al-Rahma which is located on the eastern side of al-Aqsa Mosque in 2003 under the pretext that the building was used as a headquarters for the Heritage Committee which no longer exists and which Israel accused of “terrorism”.
