The frequency of Israeli attacks and incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock is increasing in an attempt to create facts on the ground that embody the Israeli dream of building the so-called Temple.
By emptying Al-Aqsa Mosque from its worshipers and staff the Israeli occupation authorities seek to create a suitable atmosphere for settlers to practice their rituals and hideous plans against the Mosque.
In a dangerous precedent over the past week Al-Aqsa guards detected a burning object approaching the shrine and the Dome of the Rock fired from the Al-Buraq Wall where extremist settlers have an increasingly strong presence.
Al-Aqsa guards told the PIC that the fire balloon was launched from Al-Buraq Wall towards the Dome of the Rock.
This is the first incident of its kind in which fire balloons were flown to target sanctuaries in Occupied Jerusalem. In other new incidents drones were recently spotted taking photos of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
However it is not the first time that Al-Aqsa Mosque was the target of an arson attack by Israeli settlers.
On August 21 1969 an Australian fanatic Jew Denis Michael Rohan entered Al-Aqsa Mosque from Al-Guanameh Gate and set fire to it.
At the time the fire broke out in the eastern wing of the chapel on the southern side of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The fire reached the façades of the Mosque its ceiling carpets rare decorations and the furniture and copies of holy Quran.
The fire also engulfed the historic pulpit of the Mosque which was brought by Salah al-Din from the city of Aleppo when Muslims restored the city of Jerusalem in 1187. The pulpit had been a beautiful landmark as Sultan Nur al-Din Zanki ordered preparing it to be sent to Al-Aqsa after the liberation of the Mosque.
It was found that the incendiary substance was poured from inside and outside the chapel.
A serious incident
The Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Omar al-Kiswani told the Palestinian Information Center: “This is a dangerous incident the source of which is Israeli extremists and it will not pass unnoticed.”
He explained that these incidents are staged by Israeli extremists adding: “We informed the Israeli police the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan and its embassy in addition to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf.”
A fierce onslaught
He noted that “The fierce onslaught against the city of Jerusalem has increased since the announcement of the US administration of its plan to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
He added that “the occupation authorities carry out an integrated plan to impose sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque by force” pointing out that it expels worshipers and arrests employees during the storming of Al-Aqsa by extremist settlers.”
Exiling employees and worshipers
The Israeli occupation authorities have recently banished more than 12 staff members of Al-Aqsa Mosque guards and staff for a period ranging from one to eight months.
According to PIC follow-up the most prominent figures the Israeli authorities prevented from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque include: Rami al-Fakhouri Mahmoud Abd al-Latif Jihad Qaws Rawhi al-Qulagasi Raed al-Zaghir Abu al-Thaer and Shadi Matar who were barred from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for six months while Hamza al-Zaghir Hussam Sidr Mu’min Hashim Jamil al-Abbasi and Yacoub al-Dabbagh were barred from the Mosque for three months.
Al-Kiswani called for increasing presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque to resist the Israeli incursions.
He stressed that prayer and presence are means of steadfastness to confront the Israeli attacks against Al-Aqsa.
Sharp increase
The Jerusalem Center for Israeli and Palestinian Studies said that Israeli settlers intensified their incursions into Al-Aqsa during the month of August (2018) with some 2841 settlers entering its backyards including Israeli intelligence military personnel and students of the alleged temple.
According to a report 2247 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in August including 337 Israeli special forces and 67 Israeli intelligence agents while 190 students from the so-called Students of the Temple group stormed Al-Aqsa courtyards.
According to the Jerusalem Center 41206 tourists entered Al-Aqsa during August.
In mid-August Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa courtyards and arrested six female worshipers from its yards. They later released them on condition that they are banned from the Mosque for varying periods.
The occupation authorities continue to deprive dozens of Jerusalemites from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque putting them on a black list and imposing a security ban on their entry to the Old City and Al-Aqsa.
