Some 18 000 Jewish settlers and Israeli security forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during 2016, an official study revealed.
The study, which was published by the London-based Daily 48 agency – known as Palestinians 48, has reported that the figure is considered the largest since the Israeli occupation on Jerusalem “Al-Quds” in 1967.
According to the study, the Israeli worshippers had comprised 14,103 settlers – most of whom seemed to be part of the core group of Temple Mount activists, 2,259 Jewish students, and 815 police and intelligence forces.
The month of October had witnessed the largest record number of Jewish settlers who entered Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, as coinciding with a three-week period of Jewish holidays (3-15 October), under the protection of armed police officers and forces.
During the same month, Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO a day after the UN cultural body passed a resolution that sharply criticised Israeli policies around Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, while supposedly rejecting Jewish ties to the holy site in occupied East Jerusalem.
The resolution condemned Israel for restricting Muslims access to the site, and for aggression by police and soldiers. It also reaffirmed Israel as the occupying power.
250% increase
The marked increase in visits represent the highest frequency of Zionist provocations against the Holy Site since East Jerusalem was occupied by Israel 50 years ago.
The figures show that such raids increased by at least 250 per cent over the past seven years; 5658 Israelis are reported to have raided the mosque in 2009, strikingly smaller to last year’s figure.
Extreme right-wing Israeli organisations claim that the reasons for the increase include better arrangements and a “quieter” situation compared to the previous year. They pointed out that Palestinian groups which have been trying to protect the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa have been “delegitimised” by the Israeli government, including the Sharia Schools inside Al-Aqsa itself and the Islamic Movement in Israel.
The statistics quoted do not include raids by Jewish students and the Israeli security services, either plain clothes or military. As such, Safa explained, there is a big difference between the statistics claimed by Israel and those collated by Palestinian sources. Quds Press for example, has reported that the number of Israelis who raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2016 represented an increase of 310 per cent compared to 2009.
According to an agreement signed between the Tel Aviv regime and the Jordanian government – which administers Al-Aqsa Mosque – after Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem al-Quds in 1967, visits to the compound by Israelis are permitted but non-Muslim worship is prohibited.
Settlers and Jewish worshippers normally come to the mosque between 07:30 (05:30 GMT) and 10:00 (08:00 GMT) and again after the Muslim prayer of duhr every day except Fridays and Saturdays.
Muslims consider trespasses by Israelis into the Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of a provocative Israeli campaign. They say the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the demography of the holy city of al-Quds, where the mosque is located, and demolish Masaajid at the Holy compound to make for a Jewish Temple.
