AL-QUDS
More than 300 Jewish settlers, Israeli policemen and intelligence personnel have broken into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the first three months of 2014, a Palestinian NGO said on Sunday.
"Some 3168 Israelis, including 2089, broke into Al-Aqsa during the first quarter of this year," Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said in a statement.
It added that 133 Israelis had broken into the mosque complex on Sunday alone.
On Saturday, Deputy Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel Kamal al-Khatib called on Palestinians to descend on the mosque on April 14, citing plans by Jewish settlers to break into the mosque compound as part of Passover celebrations.
In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have stepped up their intrusions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, the world's third holiest site for Muslims.
The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent confrontations.
Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied the Palestinian city of Al-Quds during the 1967 Middle East War.
It annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the new self-proclaimed Jewish state.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr
