Warning over putting Umayyad Castles under control of Elad Foundation

Al-Aqsa Foundation has warned of putting the area of the Umayyad Castles adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque under the control of Elad Settlement Foundation, Pls48.net reported on Sunday.

In a statement, Al-Aqsa Foundation noted that this measure would increase dangers facing Al-Aqsa Mosque and the historical Islamic endowments around it, as well as accelerate the excavation works under the Islamic holy site.

The statement said that the Judaisation excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque have been underway for a long time and have been extended from under the neighbourhood of Silwan, passing under the entrance of Wadi Al-Hilwa and reaching the foundations of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Foundations said that Elad is likely to increase overt excavation following the government’s decision to connect the area of the Umayyad Castles with the already Judaised settlement site Centre of Visits – Eir David.

Previously, the Israeli magistrate court rejected to ratify the contract that transfers the control of the Umayyad Castles to Elad, warning of deterioration in Israeli-Jordanian relations because of the Jordanian guardianship over the Islamic holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.

Many of the Islamic sites adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque have been targeted by Judaisation and excavations, and many Islamic remains have completely vanished since the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.