Palestinian sources quoted guards of the mosque as saying that Palestinian worshippers clashed with the Jewish extremists as well as the Israeli police.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces arrested today 5 Palestinians from vairous parts of the West Bank.

Palestinian sources said that the occupation forces stormed the towns of Nablus, Ramallah and Qalqiliah and arrested 5 Palestinian citizens.

//Petra// ON
1/6/2011 - 11:29:52 AM

TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Palestinian activist cautioned on Wednesday that the Zionist regime of Israel is likely to attempt to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque through an artificial earthquake, and urged all Islamic countries to show an immediate and strong reaction to the Israeli plans against the first Muslim Keble.

"There are several scenarios for the Al Aqsa Mosque, but these are the Arab and Islamic countries as well as the international community, and not the occupying Zionist regime, which should decide the proper option for the Mosque," Secretary-General of Islamic-Christian Front of al-Quds Hasan Khater told FNA.

"The Zionist regime authorities may find control over the Al Aqsa Mosque or issue the order for its destruction through an artificial quake which now seems to be the case, given the Zionists' continued diggings and excavation operations under the Al Aqsa Mosque," Khater noted.

He further lashed out at the Islamic states for keeping mum about Israel's antagonistic moves, and said that Muslim states' inaction has emboldened Tel Aviv, encouraging it to continue with its plans.

Earlier in April, the Al Aqsa Foundation for Islamic Endowment (Waqf) and Heritage reported that the Israeli Authorities are going on with their excavations under the Al Aqsa Mosque to create a network of tunnels under and around the very important mosque.

The foundation stated that occupation is penetrating areas beneath the mosque and its surroundings through excavations that have been escalated during the last few months.

The foundation added that the excavations and digging are also being conducted under the Al Boraq Wall near the Moghrabi Gate (Bab Al Magharba), Al Silsila Gate (Gate of the Chain), and Al Mat-hara Gate.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (ABNA) - The Aqsa Foundation for Endowments and Heritage reported two days ago a collapse in the ground of the Aqsa Mosque revealing a hole of unknown depth near the tree that fell in the mosque area a week back.

The foundation in a statement it released Sunday called for an investigation into the recurring incidents of collapse around the Aqsa Mosque and the cause of cracks which have appeared in the mosque and adjacent structures.

“All evidence shows the existence of holes dug by the Israeli occupation below and around the Aqsa Mosque.”

The foundation documented the incident in photos and video on Saturday, but delayed publishing to conduct further testing and ascertain data.

A team visited the mosque Saturday for an additional ground inspection on the site of the old tree that fell last week when inspectors noticed six meters away from the tree a cavity covered with newspapers on top a number of short branch remains appearing to be remnants of the fallen tree. Beneath it was a suspicious concrete stone that lay slanted.

Investigators found near the site a 50 sq. cm wide hole, but they were unable to identify how deep the hole actually was.

The inspection team proposed that recurred incidents of collapse and decay in the mosque suggested that Israeli forces have been digging below the holy site.

Within the past two years the foundation discovered collapses in the floor of the Aqsa Mosque, a massive tree which fell near the Qattanein Gate, cracks on the buildings near the tree, holes dug up by Israeli planners below the Mutahhara area located on the western border of the mosque, cracks in the Marwani building, cracks in the building above a gate in the northern part of the mosque, and excavations in the western and southern parts of the mosque.

[ 22/11/2010 - 05:35 PM ]

MAKKAH, (PIC)--

Palestinian religious affairs minister in Gaza, Dr. Talib Abu Sha’ar, warned Sunday that the NIS 85 million project that the Israeli occupation government approved this week to develop Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Buraq Square, known to Jews as the Wailing Wall, is aimed at erasing and Judaizing the Islamic history of the region.

The budget, which was allocated to expand and develop the square, increase the number of Jewish visitors to the site, and fund archaeological digging, will be placed before concerned ministries over the next four years.

Abu Sha’ar said he was concerned about the sharp increase in Israeli projects targeting Jerusalem monuments and Islamic holy sites, while assigning specific blame to right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his responsibility for the implementation of the project and management of its budget.

The Palestinian minister called on all Arab and international officials to defend Jerusalem, its holy sites, and people from Israel injustices practiced against them through developmental projects in the holy city on one hand, and Israel’s legalization of Judaization in the city on the other.

Israeli soldiers broke on Wednesday evening into the yards of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, clashed with dozens of Palestinian youths and arrested several Muslim worshipers; at least fifteen Palestinians were wounded.

The army claimed that the soldiers were chasing Palestinians who hurled stones and empty bottles at them after an Israeli security guard, working for a private security company, shot and killed, Samer Sarhan, 32.

Sarhan, left behind a wife and five children, the oldest is 11 and the youngest is 3 years old.

Local sources in Jerusalem reported that at least fifteen Palestinians were wounded since morning hours on Wednesday, while several others were detained and were moved to interrogation centers.

Member of the Committee for Defending Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem, Fakhri Abu Thiab, stated that tension is mounting especially after the army and the police broke into the yards of the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Silwan neighborhood adjacent to the mosque.

In related news, the Israeli Radio reported that a 53-year-old Israeli man was moderately wounded after being stabbed near the Augusta Victoria hospital in East Jerusalem.

The Israeli Police said that police officers evacuated the man to an Israeli hospital in Jerusalem and managed to evacuate two Israelis who accompanied him after a number of Palestinian youths hurled stones at their vehicle and flipped it over.

Severe clashes were reported in different Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Israeli guard who killed Sarhan was briefly detained by the police and was released on bail on Wednesday evening.

http://imemc.org/article/59464

After disclosing project for excavation areas near al-Aqsa mosque, Palestinian sources warned against agreement of the Zionist's decision-making centers with such project.

The Institute for dedication and preserving the historic heritage of al-Aqsa warned against continuation of such measure and announced that the Zionists has arranged to build a new space very close to al-Aqsa Mosque, especially in the lower part of the wall and al-Braq courtyard, in an area of six hundred square meters.
 
The project is based on judaizing Beit ul Moqaddas and giving Jewish nature to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Warning against consequences of implementation of such plot, the al-Aqsa Institution said that such a plan along with other similar projects would help the Zionists to achieve their goals to destroy the Aqsa Mosque as soon as possible.

==============================

130 Ultra-orthodox Jews break into the Aqsa Mosque
Date: 2010/09/13 source: palestine info

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM -- 130 Jewish extremists stormed into the Aqsa Mosque Monday morning from the Maghareba Gate, accompanied by reinforced Israeli police, local sources said.

Ahlul Bayt News Agency ; OCCUPIED JERUSALEM -- 130 Jewish extremists stormed into the Aqsa Mosque Monday morning from the Maghareba Gate, accompanied by reinforced Israeli police, local sources said.

Five groups entered through the gate, each group led by a head rabbi, one security guard reported.

The Mosque’s guards monitored the Jews from afar for fear of being arrested as they toured the Mosque’s courtyards and halls.

Israeli police and border guards raided the Aqsa Mosque late Saturday night and arrested a group of Palestinians inside the Mosque.

The troops took down a Palestinian flag and banners congratulating Palestinians over the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holidays.

By choosing not to visit Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem, we are only helping the Zionist to keep the Muslims away for the holy mosque.  Zionists are already spreading propaganda that the Muslims have no roots in Jerusalem or Al-Aqsa; we should not let this happen! It is our right as Muslims to visit Al-Aqsa no matter who is occupying the land. Only by being attached to Al-Aqsa will our children also be attached to it and the whole Muslim Ummah!!

----------------------

Saudi authorities: We will punish Al Areefi if he travels to Jerusalem
Thursday, 08 April 2010

"Traveling to countries on which a travel ban is imposed without obtaining a special permission from the authorities leads to penalization."

The official spokesman of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports, Major Badr El Malik, said that any Saudi who travels to a country on which the Saudi government imposes a travel ban will be charged and penalised accordingly.

Commenting on the announcement made by Saudi preacher Dr. Mohamed Al Areefi that he intended to visit Jerusalem to shoot an episode of his show, El Malik said, "We won’t hold him accountable for statements he makes on TV since these could be sheer propaganda… But if the Ministry of Interior verifies that a Saudi citizen actually went to one of the countries on which the government imposes a travel ban, he will be penalized no matter who he is."

In statements that El Malik made to the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan – which it published Wednesday, April 7, he said that "traveling to countries on which a travel ban is imposed without obtaining a special permission from the authorities leads to penalization."

Sheikh Mohamed Al Areefi had announced, through Iqra satellite channel, his intention to travel to Jerusalem next week in order to shoot an episode of his show "Leave Your Fingerprint", although the Saudi authorities ban traveling to Israel.

On his part, the former member of the Interior Ministry’s Advisory Committee, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Yaeesh, said in comments published in the same newspaper that Muslims around the world are eager to visit Al Aqsa Mosque but they don’t go there in protest of Israel’s control of it, as visiting Jerusalem is considered to be a form of recognizing Israel.

Bin Yaeesh explained that warding off evil takes priority over bringing benefits, and that visiting Israel involves great evils, including breaking Muslim unity and accusing Saudi Arabia of standing behind the preacher’s visit to Israel.

(CNN) -- Israeli police are restricting Friday prayers at Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem following intelligence reports about possible riots in the city, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Men age 40 and under will not be allowed to pray at the mosque Friday, he said.

When Israeli officials have concerns about possible violence, it is not uncommon for them to limit the access young men have to the mosque.

Hatem Abdel Qader, a Fatah official in Jerusalem, told CNN that such restrictions have become common in recent years.

"This is an excuse that Israel uses for security reasons to prevent the largest number of citizens from reaching the old city and the Aqsa mosque," he said.

Israeli officials have said public safety concerns prompt the restrictions, but Qader said the motivation is religious.

The mosque, which is located on the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem, has been a site of clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.

In 1996, dozens of people were killed in rioting related to the mosque.

CNN's Kareem Khadder contributed to this report.

===================

Zionist religious leaders’ attack on Aqsa mosque
2010/06/13

According to Palestinian news sources Zionist religious leaders attacked Al-aqsa mosque

Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), Through Palestinian reliable sources a group of Zionist religious leaders with coalition of Israeli soldiers has raided Al-aqsa mosque.
These Zionist religious leaders invaded Aqsa mosque by jumping walls.

Dr .Talib Abu Sher has severely condemned this step of Zionist religious leaders.
He said that this attack is evidence of being devoid of moral values. He demanded from Muslim scholars that they should not remain indifferent on this blasphemous act but should take solid measures against Israel. The head of Quds committee has demanded from Muslims that they should take start action against Israel.

Published: May 25, 2010 23:45 Updated: May 25, 2010 23:45

RAMALLAH: Israeli occupation authorities began excavation works near Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, according to Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage.

The foundation said in a press statement that the "new excavations are concentrated in the site of Birkat Al-Sultan (Al-Sultan's Pool,” adjacent to the western wall of the Jerusalem's Old City). The pool was a source of water supply to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, the foundation said.

It added that the "Israeli authorities sized control of the Islamic and historic site since the 1948 war and destroyed parts of it." According to the foundation, the Israeli authorities turned parts of the site into a national park.

The foundation warned of the risks and consequences of these excavations and tunnels on the foundations of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It added that the new excavations are part of Israeli efforts "to find any proof of the alleged Second Temple under Al-Aqsa Mosque and to Judaize Jerusalem." and."

The foundation said that the Israeli authorities "failed since it started its excavations to prove Jewish presence in the holy city or that the Temple ever existed." The foundation stressed that the "new excavations in the Old City are provocations for Muslims." It urged Arab and Islamic states to take action to stop it.

Palestinian Endowments Minister Mahmoud al-Habash has renewed the Palestinian Authority's invitation for Egyptian Endowments Minister Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq to visit Jerusalem.

Zaqzouq welcomed the invitation, saying that he has called for Muslims to visit Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa mosque more than 13 years ago. Such visits uphold the Islamic claim to Jerusalem and do not represent a form of normalization of relations with Israel, the endownments minister said.

Visiting Jerusalem highlights the city's Islamic status and its belonging to more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide--not only Arabs--Zaqzouq said. He added that slogans and speeches alone are not enough and more must be done to prevent Israel from implementing its plans to 'Judaize' Jerusalem.

Zaqzouq went on to say that visits to Jerusalem should help expose Israel to international public opinion, because if Israel denies access to visiting Muslims the entire world will see how stubborn and opposed to the freedom of worship Israel is. In addition such visits help increase the sales of Muslim traders in Jerusalem, according to Zaqzouq.

Meanwhile, el-Habash said that all Palestinian leaders would like to see Muslims coming to Jerusalem: "The residents of Jerusalem would like to see their fellow Muslims from all over the world standing by them. That will boost their morale in the face of the oppression they are facing."

The two ministers agreed that Jerusalem should be evoked in religious discourse in the Islamic world. They also called for reviving the old charitable waqf tradition, where proceeds were dedicated to Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.

Zaqzouq also expressed readiness to facilitate the enrollment of Palestinian preachers in training courses organized by Al-Azhar, and agreed to dispatch preachers and Quran reciters to Ramallah during Ramadan and to examine the possibility of dispatching preachers to Palestine all year round.