IbnAlAawam
Junior Member
Israel dumps Al Mughrba gate’s Islamic antiquities
3/26/2007 1:00:00 PM GMT
Israeli occupation forces dumped historic Islamic antiquities that were discovered during the destructive digging at Al Mughrba gate near Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, according to Al Aqsa Foundation For Rebuilding Islamic Sanctities.
In a press conference, the foundation displayed photographs showing that Israeli troops threw the ancient antiquities found at Al Mughrba gate into garbage dumps in the east Jerusalem municipality and the illegal Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adomim, located near the West Bank’s separation wall.
Palestinians and Muslims all over the world have angrily condemned Israel’s excavation work which began near Islam’s third holiest site on February 6.
The Israeli government says the excavations are aimed at salvaging archaeological remains ahead of the construction of a new pedestrian walkway to the holy site.
But Muslim leaders warn that the digging could damage the foundations of the mosque complex, known to Muslims as the al- Haram al-Qudsi al-Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary), and as Temple Mount to Jews and some Christians.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNISCO) urged the Israelis to halt the project and draw up a new work plan in consultation with Jordanian authorities, and the Waqf -- a body that oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
In the press conference, organized by al-Aqsa foundation to respond to UNISCO'S report on Israel’s excavations, Sheikh Ekram Sabri, chief of Islamic Higher committee and Al Aqsa mosque preacher, criticized the Paris-based UN agency for recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over Al Mughraba gate.
“There is no Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem as Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque are occupied. The excavations jeopardize Al Aqsa mosque,” he stressed.
Sheikh Sabri also said that the Arab League prepared a technical report about the excavations at the walkway of Al Mughrba gate that will be sent to this week’s Arab summit in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mustafa Abu Zahra, member of Jerusalem's chamber of Commerce, warned of Israel’s continuous excavations at the foot bridge of Al Mughrba gate.
Reports say Israeli occupation forces stormed into the press conference in Al Sewan area of East Jerusalem, next to the Commodore hotel, and threatened the owner of the hotel not to hold the meeting.
Israel’s excavations near the holy mosque sparked Muslim protests in Arab East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City where the compound is located.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, a move not recognized internationally. It considers all of Jerusalem its “eternal and indivisible capital”.
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent future state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
-- AJP and Agencies
Source
3/26/2007 1:00:00 PM GMT
Israeli occupation forces dumped historic Islamic antiquities that were discovered during the destructive digging at Al Mughrba gate near Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, according to Al Aqsa Foundation For Rebuilding Islamic Sanctities.
In a press conference, the foundation displayed photographs showing that Israeli troops threw the ancient antiquities found at Al Mughrba gate into garbage dumps in the east Jerusalem municipality and the illegal Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adomim, located near the West Bank’s separation wall.
Palestinians and Muslims all over the world have angrily condemned Israel’s excavation work which began near Islam’s third holiest site on February 6.
The Israeli government says the excavations are aimed at salvaging archaeological remains ahead of the construction of a new pedestrian walkway to the holy site.
But Muslim leaders warn that the digging could damage the foundations of the mosque complex, known to Muslims as the al- Haram al-Qudsi al-Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary), and as Temple Mount to Jews and some Christians.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNISCO) urged the Israelis to halt the project and draw up a new work plan in consultation with Jordanian authorities, and the Waqf -- a body that oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
In the press conference, organized by al-Aqsa foundation to respond to UNISCO'S report on Israel’s excavations, Sheikh Ekram Sabri, chief of Islamic Higher committee and Al Aqsa mosque preacher, criticized the Paris-based UN agency for recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over Al Mughraba gate.
“There is no Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem as Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque are occupied. The excavations jeopardize Al Aqsa mosque,” he stressed.
Sheikh Sabri also said that the Arab League prepared a technical report about the excavations at the walkway of Al Mughrba gate that will be sent to this week’s Arab summit in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mustafa Abu Zahra, member of Jerusalem's chamber of Commerce, warned of Israel’s continuous excavations at the foot bridge of Al Mughrba gate.
Reports say Israeli occupation forces stormed into the press conference in Al Sewan area of East Jerusalem, next to the Commodore hotel, and threatened the owner of the hotel not to hold the meeting.
Israel’s excavations near the holy mosque sparked Muslim protests in Arab East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City where the compound is located.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, a move not recognized internationally. It considers all of Jerusalem its “eternal and indivisible capital”.
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent future state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
-- AJP and Agencies
Source