7 July 2017
Dr. Najah Bakirat, director of the Quran Academy at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, has called on Muslims to save the northern and eastern parts of Masjid al Aqsa from Jewish settlers and to prevent the ‘occupation from implementing its ‘destructive’ plans.
In an interview with the Palestinian newspaper Felesteen, he said that the Waqf must take immediate action to rehabilitate the eastern part of the Masjid. He said that Israel was trying to prove that the area was abandoned and unused and that only piles of earth and stones could be found there.
According to Bakirat, there is an Israeli plan to build a synagogue and to open the ‘Gate of Mercy’ on the eastern side of the Masjid, which has been closed since the days of Salahudeen in 1187 CE. He called for the exertion of pressure on the Israeli authorities to open the area for Muslim prayer and and to build a Mosque next to the Gate of Mercy.
He also said that Israel is interested in separating the northern part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and erecting a synagogue there. In order to thwart the plan, he urged Muslims to pray at the site, to build on the site, and to set up lighting and taps for wudhu there.
Source(with editing by masjidalaqsa.net): http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/231669
Originally published 26 June 2017
