The Supreme Committee to Follow up Issues of Arab Community in Israel warned on Tuesday of plans by radical Israeli settlers to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in April.
The committee said that any attempt to harm the mosque will lead to "detrimental consequences" that could affect countries of the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Spokesman of the committee Abed Anbatawi indicated that the committee, as well as a large number of Palestinians living in Israel will pay a visit on Tuesday to the mosque, which is considered a holy site for millions of Muslims.
Speaking to Palestinian radio Tuesday, Anbatawi stated that "the visit is not the first to be organized by the committee to be in touch with what's happening at the holy mosque at the religious as well as the national levels."
Al-Aqsa Institution for the protection of Islamic Holy sites announced Monday that around 10,000 Jewish settlers have started organizing to break into the holy mosque next month.
The settlers are planning to enter the mosque, which they call the "Temple Mount", to perform their religious rituals inside the mosque, explained the institution, noting that extremist Jewish groups began distributing posters in some settlements to prepare for the campaign.
Vice-President of the Islamic Movement in Israel scholar Kamal Khatib announced in press statements Tuesday that this Jewish call to storm into Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 10 is part of a "green light" the Israeli police have given to the Jews to enter the mosque under their protection, KUNA reported.
Meanwhile, Supreme Judge of Palestine scholar Taysir Al-Temimi warned Israel Tuesday of any attempt to harm the mosque, indicating that the settlers' plans are real and dangerous and are acknowledged by several Israel security authorities, including the police and the Israeli interior security apparatus who confirmed that some Jewish groups plan to blow up the mosque.
Al-Temimi called on Arab, Islamic and international organizations to defend the holy mosque and stop the aggression against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, pointing out that the security wall built by Israel around Jerusalem prevented Palestinians from reaching the mosque.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
