Israel arrests senior Waqf official in Jerusalem
No reason given for Sheikh Najeh Bakirat’s detention
JERUSALEM
Israeli police detained Sheikh Najeh Bakirat, the deputy director of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, near the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to eyewitnesses.
No reason was given for Bakirat’s arrest and Israeli police have yet to comment.
The Jordan-run Jerusalem Islamic Waqf is responsible for overseeing the holy sites in East Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.
* Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.