The illegal Zionist squatters are at it again: storming the Masjid al-Aqsa, vandalising it and attacking Muslim worshippers. The armed Zionist marauders are backed by the occupation regime's police and other forces. Palestinians are left alone to defend the first qibla of Muslims and the third holiest site in Islam. What will it take to arouse the Muslim world to realize their responsibility toward Masjid al-Aqsa?
Jerusalem,
Sunday September 13, 2015, 10:47 DST
Zionist squatters (aka settlers) aided and abetted by Israeli police have stormed the Masjid al-Aqsa causing much damage to Islam’s third holiest site. When Palestinian volunteer guards tried to prevent the squatters from desecrating Islam’s holy place, the police attacked them with tear gas, stun grenades and metal clubs. The carper in the mosque’s prayer area was not only soiled with the Zionist invaders’ filthy boots but also set on fire, according to eyewitnesses.
While Jewish religious law expressly forbids Jews from trespassing on the compound grounds, considering it sacred space that would be desecrated, Zionist squatters while waving the Torah, insist on entry. While not the first attempt to enter the holy site, this one occurred as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah was about to begin.
Muslim volunteers have courageously stood against the heavily armed marauders to prevent them from occupying the holy site. They have paid a heavy price in life but have not flinched from their duty to protect Masjid al-Aqsa. While attacking Muslim defenders inside the Mosque and the larger compound, the Zionist occupation forces then closed the compound to worshippers.
If the Zionists cannot have access to it, they seem to be saying, nor should the Muslims. It truly takes chutzpah and only the Zionists are capable of it. They have stolen much of Palestine under a spurious claim that God promised them this land. What have they done to deserve God’s favor?
But they have had their sights on Masjid al Aqsa and the larger compaound that they want to destroy and build their mythical ‘Third Temple’ there. When Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for Israeli police, said they had received intelligence about possible disturbances at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He further alleged these would involve ‘explosive devices’ as well as ‘stones thrown’ at Jewish visitors.
Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative denounced this claim as a lie. "The Israeli police are lying, they have lied before and they are lying again," he said.
Rosenfeld described Muslim worshippers defending the Masjid al Aqsa as “rioters” and claimed the police only went to calm the situation. "Our police units took the situation under control from 20 to 25 minutes only using stun grenades, non-lethal weapons only to make sure that situation remained calm."
Why were the Zionist squatters allowed to even come near the Aqsa Compound? The Zionist occupation forces know that this is sacred Muslim territory and any encroachments are bound to arouse strong reaction.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the "attack" by Zionist occupation military. At the filing of this report, clashes were continuing outside the compound walls with Zionist police and other occupation forces using heavy force against unarmed Palestinians.
The heavily armed squatters are also attacking the Palestinians. While no deaths have been reported so far, the situation remains extremely tense.
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