Jewish Extremists Threaten to Burn Al-Aqsa
"We are holding the event because of the collapse of the security situation here in [Occupied] Jerusalem," Omri Ganor of the Way of Life Organization, one of the protest's organizers said.
Protesters gathered near the Begin Heritage Center in Al-Quds where rabbi Yehuda Glick was shot last week.
The protesters began to march to the entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, but police prevented them.
During the protest, held under the banner of "Marching in our Jerusalem," the protesters shouted: "the mosque will burn and the temple rebuilt" – in a reference to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Temple Mount, which religious Jews believe it stood once in the site and pray for a new one to be built in the same area.
"Arab elements and everyone trying to harm Jews are attempting to scare people so that Jews will be afraid to walk around in Jerusalem. We are making a statement that we will march anywhere and not be afraid. We are marching with our faces towards our sacred place - the Temple Mount, where we will build a third temple, by the grace of God,” Ganor said.
"We are marching with our faces towards our sacred place - the Temple Mount, where we will build a third temple, by the grace of God," he added.
Tension has run high in the holy city of Al-Quds since last week, when Zionist regime authorities closed Al-Aqsa mosque compound after Glick's shooting before reopening it a day later.
The unrest mounted further after Israeli forces killed a young Palestinian man.
Several Israeli parliamentarians have also entered the mosque complex in recent days, drawing the ire of Muslim worshippers and official condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries.
Groups of Jewish settlers, too, have forced their way into the site, prompting clashes between Muslim worshippers and Israeli forces.
Al-Aqsa is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Its significance has been reinforced by the Islamic incident of Al Isra’a and Al Mi’raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).
Israel occupied the holy city of Al-Quds, the West Bank and Golan Heights in the 1967 war and later annexed them in a move not recognized by the international community or UN resolutions.
Since then, Israel has adopted a series of oppressive measures to force the Palestinians out of Al-Quds, including systematic demolition of their homes and building settlements.
Source: On Islam
