Scores of Israeli right wing extremists storm the Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem

Monday July 23, 2007 14:51 by Maysa Abu Ghazalah - IMEMC News

On Monday, scores of Israeli right wing extremists stormed the Al Aqsa mosque in the city of Jerusalem.

They claimed that their attack was to commemorate the destruction of the temple of Suleiman 3,000 years ago.

The Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site on earth for Muslims, was attacked today by the group of Jewish extremists who stormed the outer yards of the mosque, then conducted their prayers inside the yard, under the full protection of Israeli police and military.

When the Palestinians working in the mosque and Muslim worshipers tried to stop the extremists from attacking the mosque, the Israeli police attacked them with batons and kidnapped one man identified as Mustafa Abu Zahrah.

The attack comes as part of the commemoration of the destruction of a Jewish temple, the Temple of Suleiman, by Romans 3,000 years ago. Israeli right wing groups are organizing the commemoration, which will culminate with a massive invasion of the Mosque on Tuesday.

Muslims consider the military presence to be a desecration of their holy site.

Palestinian and Muslim officials and clerics stated that this is an obvious attack on the mosque, adding that the Israeli government is trying to take over the mosque, in order to destroy the mosque and build a Jewish temple in its place. Currently, entry to the Mosque is completely controlled by Israeli soldiers, and Muslims are not allowed to administer their own holy site.

Translated by Ghassan Bannoura- IMEMC News

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