Israel's Excavations and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

Aqsa Mosque jeopardized by Israeli excavation works -- Cheif Justice

Politics 2/2/2009 2:31:00 PM

RAMALLAH, Feb 2 (KUNA) -- Al-Aqsa Holy mosque might collapse due to the Israeli excavation works taking place under its bases, besides the building of a huge network of tunnels, warned Palestinian Chief Justice Taiseer Al-Tamimi here on Monday.

He told media the Israeli excavations under Al-Aqsa are behind the collapse of the ground of a classroom in a school belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jerusalem, which injured 17 students 100 meters from Al-Aqsa grounds.

He said that the Israel authorities melted the entire rock base under Al-Aqsa using certain chemicals, and removed the soil beneath, leaving the mosque at great jeopardy. This danger is compounded by the cracks in the western walls of the holy mosque so that any earthquake or shake would lead to collapse.

The official mentioned that since the Israeli attack on Gaza, the Israeli government and the radical groups were keener than ever to change the identity of the town, where the Israelis are building 3,500 settlement units in Jerusalem in order to isolate it from its surroundings.

He called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Jerusalem committee, The Arab League, and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to honor their historic and humanitarian responsibility and fulfill their obligations towards Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem.(end) nq.lb KUNA 021431 Feb 09NNNN

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