Arab League: World must ‘assume responsibility’ to protect Jerusalem
Arab League yesterday called on the international community to bear its responsibility for the occupied city of Jerusalem, raising concerns about the ongoing tensions in the city and the violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity.
In a statement to mark the 46th anniversary of the arson attack on Al-Aqsa, the Arab League stressed that the international community and organisations “must put pressure” on Israel in order to stop its violations against Al-Aqsa and the holy city.
21 August 1969
Members of an extremist Israeli Jewish gang set fire to Al-Aqsa Mosque. Following the blaze, Israeli authorities prevented people from extinguishing the fire, which caused much damage to the main mosque in the compound.
The Arab League renewed its condemnation of the daily official and non-official violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Muslim worshipers inside it, noting that several people are being banned from accessing the mosque for prayer.
Meanwhile, the organisation stressed that Al-Aqsa is an Arabic and Islamic Waqf and the occupation has no right to change its status. It stressed that Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa are “redlines” based on all laws and religious legislations, as well as international conventions.
The Arab League also condemned the excavation works being carried out beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque, noting such works undermine the mosque’s foundations.
It also denounced attempts by settlers to raise the Israeli flag over the Dome of the Rock and to perform Talmudic rituals within the Al-Aqsa compound.
“Israeli practices and policies are dangerous as the occupation state pushes settlers and Members of the Knesset to desecrate the sanctity of the mosque in order to reinforce the time and place partition,” the Arab League statement said. “This is dangerous and illegal,” the statement added.