Arab world decries Israel's Al-Aqsa restrictions

By Muhammed Ali Akman

BEIRUT (AA) –

The Arab world is decrying Israel’s new restrictions on the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque imposed after a deadly gun battle last week.

Al-Aqsa Mosque was closed to worship last weekend following a Friday shootout between Palestinians and Israeli police that left five people dead. Israel subsequently placed metal detectors on doors and imposed restrictions on the entrance of Muslims, including banning men under age 50 from entering the mosque or Jerusalem’s Old City.

Governments and politicians from across the Arab world condemned Israel and urged Israel to immediately abandon its course of action.

-Palestine

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah urged the European Union to act urgently and put pressure on Israel to stop the restrictions.

The Palestinian government condemned Israel for its provocative actions such as closing the mosque to worship last weekend.

"This dangerous tension negatively affects the peace process initiated by the international sides," said Palestinian government spokesman Tarih Rismavi.

-Qatar

Qatar also urged Israel to lift the restrictions.

"Closing Al-Aqsa to worship, declaring the district a military zone, and preventing Muslims from performing prayers is a serious violation against Islam. Those actions provoke millions of Muslims all around the world," said a Qatari Foreign Ministry statement.

-Saudi Arabia

The government of Saudi Arabia blasted the Israeli restrictions.

"The Cabinet condemns Israel for the violations," said Awwad bin Saleh al-Awwad, Saudi information minister.

Al-Awwad urged the international community to take action.

-Lebanon

Michel Nain Aoun, the Lebanese president, condemned Israel for restricting access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the people praying.

"Changing Jerusalem’s demographic makeup and geographic structure is a treacherous plan Israel has pursued since they started to usurp the holy lands," Aoun added.

-Jordan

Ayman al-Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister, warned about the ongoing situation in Palestine.

"Jordan is attempting to prevent Israel from changing the Al-Aqsa Mosque's local and historical status," he said.

-Egypt

Egypt stressed that Palestinians must be allowed to worship.

"It is Palestinians' right to fulfill their religious duties in a safe and free way. This escalated tension will prevent both parties from resolving the current troubles. The violence in the region must be stopped," said an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.

-Kuwait

Merzuk Ali El Ganim, Kuwait’s parliament speaker, called for the Arab Parliament to discuss the restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque imposed by Israel.

-Tunisia

The Tunisian Parliament condemned Israel’s restrictions at Al-Aqsa. Tunisian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Naser stated that Tunisia supports the Palestinian community's right to self-defense in the face of Israel.

- Israel and Al-Aqsa

Early on Friday, July 14, a gun battle around Al-Aqsa left three Palestinians and two Israeli police officers dead.

Following the violence, Israeli forces closed the mosque to worship. Two doors to the compound surrounding the mosque -- Al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Temple Mount -- were opened on Sunday with metal detectors on them.

According to the local Palestinian community, Israel is seeking to gain dominance over the compound, which is controlled by the Islamic Endowments Department (Waqf), and the metal detectors have nothing to do with security concerns.