For the third day, Israeli bulldozers have been razing and destroying Thursday the hill of Al Maghariba Gate one of the Gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Thousands of Israeli police and border guards deployed in the Old City of the occupied Jerusalem and besieged al-Aqsa, WAFA said.
According to the report, Israeli police installed more checkpoints around and in the Old City and assaulted and arrested scores of Palestinians. Israeli police prevented Palestinian girl students from reaching their Aqsa Secondary School and denied the access of al-Aqsa guards and employees to the Mosque.
Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister has written to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asking for an immediate halt to public works near Al-Aqsa mosque that have sparked rage all over the Islamic world. According to AFP, Amir Peretz said workS should stop, citing fears that the security situation will deteriorate.
"The entire matter is currently being looked into, particularly in the prime minister's office," a close aide to Peretz said.
On his part, Sheikh Tayssir al-Tamimi, a senior Palestinian Muslim leader, called for a one-day protest worldwide to denounce the works.
