Jewish group rallies for closing mosque in Israel

JERUSALEM

A Jewish group is planning to stage rallies on Tuesday to demand the closure of a mosque in the town of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel.

Leaders of the “Jewish Force” organization argue that three young men who carried out an attack at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last year had attended the mosque, according to Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon.

The three youths were killed in a firefight with Israeli police, during which two Israelis were killed.

Organizers of the protest claim that the three young men had been radicalized inside the mosque.

According to the newspaper, Israeli police have refused to allow the protest, but organizers argue that Israeli courts had allowed similar rallies in the past.

Reporting by Osama al-Ghassani:Writing by Ali H. M.Abo Rezeg