Jews praying at Esplanade of Mosques is attack on Muslims: Qatar

Cairo, Sep 18 (EFE).- Qatar, known for its firm support for the Palestinian cause, said the visit and prayer of Jewish people in the Esplanade of the Mosques in East Jerusalem is an attack on all Muslims.

In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry “strongly condemned the assault by hundreds of settlers on the courtyards of the (Esplanade of the Mosques) under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces,” during the celebration of the Jewish New Year.

Hundreds of Jews and Israeli nationalists entered Israeli police custody Sunday in the Esplanade of the Mosques, sacred to Islam and Judaism, which caused tensions between Palestinian worshipers and the Israeli police.

The Al Aqsa Mosque, the epicenter of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is located on the Esplanade of the Mosques, an area reserved for the worship of Muslims, while Jews can only enter as visitors, according to the status quo in force since 1967.

“It is a flagrant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions (…) attempts to undermine the religious and historical status of Al Aqsa are not only an aggression against the Palestinians, but also against the millions of Muslims throughout the world,” said the Qatari statement.

He also said “the Israeli occupation authorities are the only party responsible for the cycle of violence that would result from this policy of systematic escalation against the Palestinian people, their lands and their sanctities,” and urged the international community to “take urgent measures to stop these attacks.” EFE

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