Palestinian leader barred from al-Quds

Israeli authorities have banned the head of Islamic Movement’s northern branch from entering Jerusalem al-Quds, allegedly for causing ‘incitement’, following statements he made in recent days during Temple Mount riots.

According to the Ynet news website, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court took the decision Tuesday night to issue an injunction prohibiting Sheikh Raed Salah from entering Jerusalem al-Quds for a period of 30 days.

The sentence was announced after Salah had been released hours after his arrest in the Jerusalem al-Quds neighborhood of Wadi Joz, by detectives from the Minorities’ Unit and Border Guards officers.

Clashes erupted last Sunday between Palestinians in the eastern part of Jerusalem al-Quds and the Israeli police as a group of Jewish radicals broke into the yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque. About 16 Palestinians and several Israeli police were injured in the clashes, according to media reports.

The incident led the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, to express disapproval over the incursion by Israeli extremists. He called upon the international community to exert pressure on Israel to force it to halt such flagrant violations.

Hamas leader Mushir al-Masri said the injury of several Palestinians in clashes with Jewish extremists who broke into the yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque was ‘the fruit of the tripartite meeting’ in Washington between acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama.

Last Monday, demonstrators in Amman set the Israeli flag on fire and called on the government officials to sever diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv in reaction to Israeli soldiers’ breaking into Al-Aqsa, which is considered Muslims’ third holiest shrine.

Dozens of trades unionists and politicians also staged a sit-in in front of the headquarters of Jordan’s Professional Association Council. Protesters held banners reading, “Our blood is shed for you, our souls are sacrificed for your sanctity. We swear to you, Aqsa, that we will never forget you”.

Many Muslims consider the Jewish zealots’ trespass into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of a Judaization campaign that targets the holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds and a provocation of Muslim feelings.