Al Aqsa Foundation warns of new Israeli excavation south of the Al Aqsa Mosque

Friday November 02, 2007 04:22 by Maisa Abu Ghazala - IMEMC

The Al Aqsa Foundation for rebuilding Islamic Holy Sites, warned on Thursday from the dangers of new Israeli excavations carried only fifty meters away from the southern wall of the Al Aqsa mosque, and only a few meters away from the walls of the Old City.

Archive Photo

The Foundation stated that the excavations are shaking the ground and causing damages to Palestinian houses near the site.

Also, the foundation reported that the Israeli authorities are conducting these excavations in order construct trade and tourism facilities, and that some of these facilities start underground. The excavations re also carried out to create a tunnel to link these facilities with Al Mughrabi Wall and the Western Wall.

In an urgent press release, the Foundation said that its field teams toured on Wednesday some of the entrances of Silwan town, especially the main entrance which is only a few meters away from the Mughrabi Gate, and observed the excavations which are carried out by huge machines and are heavily shaking the ground which inflicts serious danger to the foundations of the Al Aqsa Mosque, and endangering the houses of the residents in Silwan.

In its release, the foundation considered these excavations as part of an Israeli plan to divide the mosque as the first step to create a Jewish temple there.

Several Inhabitants of house close to the digging, in Silwan, said that the excavation always start early in the morning and continue until late evening hours, and sometimes are also carried out at night.

One child, Haneen Mohammad Qara’een, stated that she cannot study during daytime, and that she has to do that after ten at night which is the time when the excavations usually stop.

Translated by; Saed Bannoura - IMEMC 

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