Israel benefiting from region’s chaos: Al-Aqsa imam

By Suhib Mohammad and Nemed Abed

ISTANBUL

Israel is benefiting from ongoing violence and chaos in the Arab world, Imam Ikrimah Sabri, imam at East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, said Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Sabri said: "Israel is creating an atmosphere conducive to its own interests, allowing it to continue its violations in Jerusalem."

The imam went on to urge the world’s Muslims to unite with a view to confronting ongoing Israeli violations against Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"The situation in the region -- implicitly and explicitly -- serves Israeli interests," he said. "Muslims and Arabs must close ranks and set aside their differences."

Sabri criticized Arab and Muslim inaction despite earlier calls to protect the iconic mosque.

"No one has heard our calls to safeguard Al-Aqsa," he said. "Current Arab and Muslim governments do not appear to be up to the task."

Sabri went on to assert that, despite recent summits of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jakarta and Istanbul, no tangible steps have been taken to protect the Al-Aqsa.

He also accused Israel of persecuting Muslims who visited the religious site, noting that, for Muslims, "Visiting Al-Aqsa is a religious obligation".

Sabri also praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his outspoken support of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Muslim causes in the region.