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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230223-israeli-excavations-and-blocking-of-restoration-eat-away-at-the-fabric-of-al-aqsa-mosque/">middleeastmonitor.com</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israeli excavations and blocking of restoration eat away at the fabric of Al-Aqsa Mosque</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">February 23, 2023</div>
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<img src="cid:ii_lehh8lnx0" alt="image.png" width="392" height="261"><br><p>The Israeli occupation authorities are continuing their criminal,
racist policies against Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and
attempting to implement the Talmudic plans to fulfil the dream of
extremist Jewish settlers to demolish the mosque and build a temple on
its ruins, the <i>Palestinian Information Centre</i> has revealed. Every
possible crime is committed with this objective in mind, including
excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque and its courtyards to undermine the
foundations, said the news outlet, as well as in the surrounding
neighbourhoods to change the demography. Moreover, the Islamic Religious
Endowments Department is prevented from carrying out essential
restoration work on the fabric of the ancient structures in the Noble
Sanctuary.</p>
<p>Recent heavy rain has exposed serious cracks in the sanctuary's
buildings, facilities, walls, ceilings and floors; rainwater has leaked
into the Marwani Mosque and soaked the carpets. Paving stones on Via
Dolorosa near Al-Ghanamwa Gate have collapsed and stones on the Western
side of the Dome of the Rock have fallen.</p>
<p><strong>READ: <a title="Israel launches air strikes on Gaza" href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230223-israel-launches-air-strikes-on-gaza/">Israel launches air strikes on Gaza</a></strong></p>
<p>Israeli excavations have also recently caused the collapse of
retaining walls and floors in houses in Jerusalem's neighbourhoods. In
Silwan, part of the house of Jerusalem resident Kayed Al-Rajabi
collapsed in the Batn Al-Hawa area, and a retaining wall collapsed in
Ain Al-Lawza neighbourhood. There is a real danger of homes belonging to
Palestinian Jerusalemites collapsing, and this threat has increased
after the occupation forces demolished a retaining wall belonging to the
Abu Tayeh family a few days ago.</p>
<div id="gmail-attachment_602999" class="gmail-wp-caption"><p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_61085-1-scaled.jpg?resize=933%2C622&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1" alt="Israeli occupation forces look set to increase their policy of bulldozing Palestinian land and property in 2023 - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="392" height="261"></p><p class="gmail-wp-caption-text">Israeli
occupation forces look set to increase their policy of bulldozing
Palestinian land and property in 2023 – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East
Monitor]</p></div><p>The Elad illegal settlers' association revealed
earlier that it had concluded its excavations in Jabal Mukaber and
Silwan, and that it had obtained the approval of the
occupation-controlled municipality in Jerusalem to start building a huge
tourist centre at the top of Jabal Mukaber. Settlers' groups are
working to link illegal settlements between Silwan and Jabal Mukaber,
blocking any expansion of Palestinian residential areas.</p>
<p>"The [Israeli] occupation is deliberately preventing the restoration
in conjunction with the continuation of its excavations under Al-Aqsa
and its surroundings, in order to have an impact on the buildings of the
mosque and expose them to collapse," Muhammad Hamada, the spokesman on
Jerusalem issues for Hamas, told the <i>Palestinian Information Centre</i>. He also referred to the Talmudic plans to demolish the mosque and build a temple in its place.</p>
<p>Hamada explained that the rain damage is an example of the deliberate
Zionist policy and "crimes" against Al-Aqsa Mosque. Alarm bells should
be ringing every time there is any bad weather, he insisted. "What are
we waiting for in order to protect the mosque and prevent a catastrophe
after which regret will not be of any use?" He stressed the need for
action at all levels to force the Israeli occupation authorities to
allow restoration and repair work and the entry of the necessary
equipment to carry this out. "All gaps and holes need to be closed as a
matter of urgency. Stonework needs to be strengthened, including the
walls. Proper, regular maintenance should start without delay."</p>
<p><strong>READ: <a title="IOA accelerates underground digging around Al-Aqsa Mosque" href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230113-ioa-accelerates-underground-digging-around-al-aqsa-mosque/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=617071&relatedposts_position=1">IOA accelerates underground digging around Al-Aqsa Mosque</a></strong></p>
<p>The Hamas spokesman said that the Zionist occupation is fully
responsible for what is happening to the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa, as
it has prevented restoration work for years.</p>
<p>"This is serious. It poses a risk to the mosque as well as the
worshippers and those who stay in religious seclusion and work there.
The occupation's continued escalation of its Judaisation plans and
systematic excavations in Al-Aqsa expose its facilities and the fabric
of the buildings to many dangers. It is a heinous crime being done to
provoke the Palestinians and Muslims around the world."</p>
<p>Nevertheless, added Hamada, the people and the nation will support
Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa. "And our people will continue to act as a barrier
to defend them by all means."</p>
<p>The deputy head of the Islamic Religious Endowments Department in
Jerusalem, Dr Najeh Bakirat, also pointed out that the prevention of
restoration and repair work is a threat that could lead to the collapse
of vital structures within Al-Aqsa Sanctuary. "The occupation's
approach," he added, "poses a great threat to the mosque and other
buildings that are many hundreds of years old." He appealed to
international organisations and heritage bodies to prosecute the
occupation state for not allowing the damage in and around Al-Aqsa
Mosque to be repaired.</p>
<p><em>This article first appeared in Arabic in <a href="https://www.palinfo.com/news/2023/2/9/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Palestinian Information Centre </a>on 9 February 2023</em></p>
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