JERUSALEM (AA) - The director of Islamic Religious Endowments in al-Quds (East Jerusalem), Azzam al-Khatib, has rung the alarm over a planned rally by settlers to mark the holiday of Sukkot.
The Municipality of Jerusalem has announced rallies across Jerusalem on September 24 as part of the celebration of Sukkot.
“Such rallies pose dangers to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the whole city of al-Quds,” al-Khatib told Anadolu Agency on Friday.
He called for halting the planned rallies “in order not to open the door for extremist groups to approach the Al-Aqsa Mosque and avoid tension, provocations and violence in the city”.
Al-Khatib also rejected Israeli restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshippers to Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for respecting the sanctity of the holy mosque.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims, has been the target of recent attacks by Jewish settlers.
Several Jewish groups have called for storming the Aqsa Mosque compound as part of celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
by Zaki Mohamed
englishnews@aa.com.tr
