Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs in Gaza Dr. Ismail Radwan condemned the repeated raids into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the calls by the settlers and the Israeli official institution to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Minister hailed the Palestinian people who took part in the mass rallies which have been organized to the Al-Aqsa Mosque since Tuesday night to defend the mosque and the dignity of the Arab and Islamic nation. He denounced the closure of the doors of the Mosque and the attacks on the worshipers inside its squares. "In light of the Arab preoccupation with internal events, the Israeli occupation has continued its policy of Judaization and incursions," Radwan said, calling on the nation not to forget about the central issue which is the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque. He warned the Israeli occupation of the repercussion of these repeated incursions and attempts to Judaize Al-Aqsa Mosque and called on the nation's peoples, leaders and scholars to defend the Mosque. He also demanded the media to expose the occupation practices and to urge the people defend the holy sites. The Minister of Endowments called on Ramallah authority to release the resistance and halt the futile negotiations and security coordination with the occupation, stressing that the negotiations encouraged the raids and aggression. For his part, media spokesman for the Al-Ahrar Movement engineer Yasser Khalaf said during his participation in the march of the Palestinian forces and factions that the liberation of Jerusalem can only be achieved through the resistance. Khalaf considered in a statement on Wednesday that the march, waged on Wednesday, "reflects the position of all spectrums of the Palestinian people rejecting the Israeli policy against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque." He pointed out that all the occupation practices targeting Jerusalem, including the Judaization, the excavations and the displacement of its people will not succeed in changing its Arab and Islamic reality. Khalaf called on the Palestinian negotiator to stop the negotiations that are held in light of the occupation's continued violations. He stressed that the land and the holy sites could not be liberated through the futile negotiations that gave cover for the occupation's attacks, but through the armed resistance. Media spokesman for Al-Ahrar Movement urged the Arab and Islamic nations to shoulder their responsibilities, support the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites and defend the Islamic holy sites. He also demanded the masses of the Palestinian people in the 1948 occupied territories to intensify their presence in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and protect it from the settlers.

Hamas movement condemned in a statement on Wednesday night the repeated Israeli calls for storming and dividing the Aqsa Mosque and the practical steps taken in this regard. Hamas said in a press release that it strongly condemns the “brutal attack” on Palestinians who marched to the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday. It warned the Israeli regime against continuing to provide protection for the Jewish settlers during forced tours of the Aqsa Mosque. The movement described the “serious escalation” in storming of the holy site as a clear provocation to the Arab and Muslim masses, adding that it would have never happened had it not been for the “futile negotiations” and the international silence and Arab and Islamic slackness. Hamas hailed all those who marched to protect the Aqsa Mosque and called for permanent presence in it, and asked the Arab and Islamic masses to mobilize all potentials for the sake of boosting steadfastness of Jerusalemites.

Rabbis in temple costume stormed the holy Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday morning in the company of Jewish settlers. Workers in the Aqsa Mosque said that the rabbis, who were wearing the special costume for the temple, gave lectures and training on future prayers inside their alleged temple. They said that heavy police presence was witnessed throughout the tour, describing the rabbis’ act as a very serious precedence as no rabbi in this costume had entered the Aqsa before. Worshipers and scholars present in the Mosque were irritated at the site and chanted Allahu Akbar. The rabbis and settlers toured its various plazas as police and special forces surrounded them.

Israel's Housing and Construction Minister, Uri Ariel, said Wednesday that Jews must be able to pray on the al-Aqsa Mosque whenever they want. Ariel statements came during a visit to the holy site on the eve of Jewish New Year; as he expressed hope that one day Jewish worshipers would be able to do the same on the holiday, The Jerusalem Post Israeli newspaper reported. "The Temple Mount is the holiest place for the Jewish people, and must be open for prayer at every hour to every Jew," Ariel stated. He added that he "plans to continue to go up [to the Mosque] and strengthen the State of Israel's sovereignty in the site." "The Temple Mount is ours, and it cannot be argued about or negotiated," Ariel emphasized. It's worth mentioning that earlier this year, Ariel launched virtual, online tours of the mosque on Tisha Be'av, the day that, according to tradition, the Messiah will return and the Holy Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, according to the newspaper.

In East al-Quds (Jersualem) Israeli bulldozers are leveling more Palestinian land to expand the illegal settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev by an additional 620 housing units.

Pisgat Ze’ev is one of five major Israeli settlements, housing over 50,000 Israelis and was established in East al-Quds after the Six-Day war of 1967.

Since the recent resumption of the “peace negotiations,” Israel has announced plans to construct more than 3,000 new housing units in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds, each of which is a violation of international law. Additionally, PressTV reported that these units are built at the expense of Palestinian lives and rights, quoting a Stop the Wall Campaign coordinator.

The Campaign coordinator continued, saying the re-starting of negotiations has only seen an increase in illegal settlement building activity, which suggests Israel’s lack of sincerity around the talks.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met on Tuesday for the latest round of talks.

The settlements are considered illegal by the United Nations and most countries because they are being built on land that has been occupied by Israel since the war of 1967, and are therefore subject to the Geneva Convention, which prohibits construction on occupied territories.

Palestinian medical sources in occupied Jerusalem have reported that several children and women were among the injured after extremist Israelis broke into the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque since early dawn hours Wednesday [August 4 2013]. Fifty Palestinians have been kidnapped in the Mosque area overnight.

The sources said that a Palestinian child, identified as Ahmad Sa’id Marar, 11, was shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet, while several women in the mosque were injured after being sprayed with pepper spray.

The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that at least 49 Israeli extremists broke into the Al-Aqsa mosque, in small groups, and that dozens of Israeli police officers invaded the yards of the mosque through that Al-Magharba Gate, and chased Muslim worshipers who tried to stop extremists from invading the mosque through that area.

Head of the Islamic Waqf and Endowment Department in Jerusalem, Sheikh Azzam Khatib Tamimi, held Israel responsible for the clashes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and for not protecting the holy sites from fanatic extremist Israeli groups.

Khatib added that the Waqf department had requested the Israeli police to close the Al-Magharba Gate, in order to prevent the extremists from invading the mosque, but the Police did not even respond.

“The extremists openly and clearly expressed their intentions to invade the mosque today”, Khatib said, “Now, they are implementing their threats”.

In related news, Israeli soldiers prevented the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, head of the Higher Fatwa Committee, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, and various religious and social figures, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and detained them in Bab Hatta area.

One of the workers of the Al-Aqsa mosque stated that the Israeli army and police kidnapped more than 50 Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after the police broke into it and dragged the residents out.

It is worth mentioning that hundreds of Israeli soldiers and police officers have been deployed in different areas in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The police also interrogated dozens of residents while inspecting their ID cards.

Various extremist groups in Israel have called for attacking the Al-Aqsa mosque on the eve of the New Jewish Year, today Wednesday. The call pushed hundreds of Palestinian to flock to the mosque in an attempt to stop the extremists.

Judaizing al-Quds: Zionists Target Muslim Holy SitesApproximately 40 Israeli Zionists and rightists trespassed into the al-Aqsa Mosque Wednesday morning, instigating clashes with Palestinian. Settlers broke into the mosque through Bab al-Magharbeh (Al-Magharbeh gate) to Bab as-Silsila. In response, Israeli officers stormed the holy site and pepper sprayed Palestinian worshipers. Several Palestinians were injured as Israeli private police assaulted them with batons. Two others, whose identities have not yet been identified, were arrested. Israeli police closed the doors to the mosque, prohibiting worshipers from entering. Media spokesperson of Al-Aqsa institution for Waqf (Endowment) and Heritage, Mahmoud Abu Atta, told PNN that hundreds of Palestinians, staged at the mosque’s gates confronted the intruders and called for defending Al-Aqsa Mosque. Abu Atta stated that the mosque is a holy place for Muslims, and Jews have no right to desecrate or violate its sanctity. PNN reported last week that Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of Islamic Movement in the occupied al-Quds (Jerusalem), called on Palestinians living in al-Quds and inside the Green Line to defend the Aqsa Mosque today, in anticipation of the possibility of Jewish extremists desecrating the holy site. August 21, 2013 marked the anniversary of a criminal arson attack on the Aqsa Mosque. Salah stated, “the [Israeli] occupation was behind that crime and sponsored its occurrence, hoping then to erase the holy al-Aqsa Mosque from existence." Al-Aqsa mosque, which is an ancient and historic monument, is routinely the site of Israeli violence on Palestinians. Press TV reports, “Israel is looking to build a temple on the ground of al-Aqsa Mosque, thus desecrating Islam's third most sacred place after Mecca and Medina.” In related news, Israeli intelligence agents reportedly arrested the Sheikh Ra'ed Salah for “incitement against Israel,” as he was on his way to a press conference about the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Press Release (Translated) - Arab Organization for Human Rights in UK Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are being subjected to a systematic Judaizing process under a complete silence of the international community. The occupation authorities are demolishing homes and displacing their residents including women, children and men taking no consideration for international laws and conventions. They are expanding settlements in Jerusalem and bringing in more settlers to give the city a Jewish character. Within the Judaizing measures and the accelerating of the planned construction of the (temple), Israeli municipality in Jerusalem has been undertaking hectic excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which led to several collapses; moreover, synagogues are being built on each side of the mosque, There is a plan to build a synagogue inside Al Aqsa mosque courtyards at Marwani chapel entrance in the south -eastern side of the mosque. As an incitement to building the temple, and within a program linking the 'Jewish spirit' to the site, Israeli authorities are regularly organizing provocative visits for various segments of Israeli society by guarding them to perform Talmudic prayers. To promote the temple-building project, masses of Israeli settlers are storming Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark Jewish New Year on Wednesday and the following days. In response to these violations, Palestinians were called up to protect the mosque on Wednesday to emphasize its standing as a sanctified site to Arabs and Muslims. The Israeli authorities, to prevent the arrival of the crowds to Al-Aqsa Mosque, erected barriers and tightened procedures for the entry of worshipers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They arrested Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic movement in pre-1948 Palestine for his active role in rallying the masses of the Palestinian people to confront the plans aimed at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Arab Organization for Human Rights in UK confirms that the main reason behind the worsening of crimes against the city of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque is the lack of decisive international position on these crimes, which are crimes against humanity. We call on Arab and Islamic countries to resort to the active international institutions community to take the necessary action to put an end to the ongoing crimes of the occupation in Jerusalem city.AOHR: Jerusalem exposed to systematic Judaization amid international silence

The Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) in the UK said that the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque are being subjected to a systematic Judaization process, amidst silence of the international community. The organization said in a statement on Tuesday: "The occupation authorities (IOA) demolished the homes and displaced the inhabitants including women, children and men without any regard for international laws and conventions. The IOA is expanding the settlements in Jerusalem and bringing more settlers to give the city a Jewish character." The statement pointed out that within the series of Judaization efforts and the plan to build the temple, the Jerusalem Municipality has been carrying out excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which led to dangerous collapses in different places in the old city. The occupation authorities also built synagogues that surrounded Al-Aqsa Mosque from all sides and plan to build a new synagogue in the plazas of the mosque, the statement added. It noted that the IOA organizes provocative visits to Al-Aqsa for Israelis under the guard of the occupation forces to perform their Talmudic prayers there, and that on the occasion of the Hebrew holidays masses of Jews intend to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday and the days that follow. The statement said that the Israeli forces are preparing to prevent the arrival of crowds of Palestinians to the Al-Aqsa Mosque through erecting barriers and putting restrictions on the entry of worshipers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They also arrested Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Palestine for his active role in organizing the mass rallies to Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Organization confirmed that the main reason behind the aggravation of crimes against the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque is the lack of decisive international position vis-a-vis these crimes. "The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK calls on Arab and Islamic countries to head quickly to the active institutions of the international community in order to take the necessary action and put an end to the ongoing crimes of the occupation in the city of Jerusalem."

Five people were detained by Israeli forces and scuffles broke out between Palestinians and police guarding the gates leading to the mosque.

Israeli police closed all gates leading to the mosque and prevented worshipers under 50 from entering. They also stopped dozens of buses in Jerusalem carrying Palestinian worshipers to the mosque and told them to turn around, Israeli media reported.

Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of endowment and affairs at al-Aqsa Mosque, told Ma'an that clashes took place around the mosque.

Local Palestinians say they expect more visits to the mosque compound by Israeli rightists due to the start of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

According to mainstream religious leaders, Jews are forbidden from entering for fear they would profane the "Holy of Holies" the inner sanctum of the Second Temple.

The Al-Aqsa compound, containing the mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is the third holiest site in Islam and abuts the site where Jews believe the ancient Second Temple stood.

Media spokesman for Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage Mahmoud Abu Atta said the Islamic movement in the 1948 territories continues preparations to organize massive marches to the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning, despite the arrest of its leader Sheikh Raed Salah. Abu Atta told Quds Press that a media campaign was launched to call on the worshipers to flock to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that his foundation in addition to Bayareq foundation and Building Al-Aqsa foundation are preparing to send to the Mosque hundreds of worshipers, to defend it against the Israeli calls for raiding and desecrating it on the occasion of the Jewish holidays. He said: "We received information stating that the occupation plans to deploy special forces in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa during the Jewish holidays, in order to create the atmosphere and provide necessary security protection for the intruders." Abu Atta stressed that Israel is trying to exploit the situation in the Arab world, in order to accelerate the implementation of its Judaization projects, and impose a fait accompli in the Aqsa Mosque. He stressed that there is a clear escalation in Israeli raids into Al-Aqsa, as they have not stopped since the end of the month of Ramadan. The spokesman of the Al-Aqsa Foundation expected that the number of intruders in Al-Aqsa Mosque will increase in the coming days. He called on the Arab and Islamic countries and the Palestinians to take serious and urgent action in order to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli Occupation continued its confiscation policy against Palestinian territories where the Israeli bulldozers have begun recently expanding Bzjat Ze'ev settlement, built on Beit Hanina lands in occupied Jerusalem. Nearly 620 housing units are planned to be added to the settlement.

Settlement expert researcher Ahmed Sab Laban stated that the Israeli authorities started the process of building infrastructure networks in the area including electricity transmission and distribution networks, water and sewage utilities as a prelude to establish 620 new housing units to Bzjat Ze'ev settlement.

The establishment of the new housing units would isolate 50 Palestinian families living in a Jerusalemite neighborhood from Beit Hanina town, he said.

Sab Laban said that the new housing units will be established in high rise residential towers ranging from 9 to 13 storeys, while the Jerusalemite residents are prevented to obtain building permits to establish high rise buildings.

The Israeli occupation authority has surveyed the area to expand Bzjat Ze’evin in order to finish with the building of street no. 20 that will connect the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev, Prophet Jacob, Anatot, Shuafat and Beit Hanina, Sab Laban stated.

Hamas movement said that the Israeli detention of Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, leader of the Islamic movement in 1948 occupied Palestine, won’t stop the Palestinian people’s march to the Aqsa Mosque. Hamas, in a press release on Tuesday, said that the Palestinian people won’t be deterred and will continue to defend the Aqsa Mosque and national constants. Hamas held the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) fully responsible for the life and safety of Sheikh Salah, who was detained while en route to address a press conference on dangers threatening the Aqsa Mosque. The movement urged Palestinians in Jerusalem and its vicinity to flock to the Aqsa Mosque in response to IOA crimes against the Palestinian lands and holy shrines. Hamas asked human rights groups to break their silence vis-à-vis the IOA violations and urgently step in to expose those violations and demand trial of the perpetrators as war criminals.

The press conference on Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque opened in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday despite the Israeli detention of Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, leader of the Islamic movement in 1948 occupied Palestine. The press conference, which was supposed to be addressed by Sheikh Salah, is held to deal with latest developments and threats against Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque. Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, the head of the higher Islamic authority in Jerusalem, said that the detention of Sheikh Salah was in violation of the freedom of opinion. He said that freedom of movement and speech should be respected, opining that Sheikh Salah was arrested to block his call for massive marches to the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday. For his part, Zahi Nujaidat, the Islamic movement’s spokesman, expressed utter dismay at the detention of Sheikh Salah, charging that the step was an attempt to disrupt pro-Aqsa activities and to terrorize citizens against participation in such activities. Fuad Al-Khuffash, the director of Ahrar center for human rights, denounced the Israeli act, adding that it was meant to silence any voice defending the Aqsa and exposing Israeli occupation’s practices against it.

Muslim officials Tuesday denounced an Israeli decision to shut down the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron, south of the West Bank, to Muslim worshippers for two days and open it only for Jews. The Israeli authorities decided to prevent Muslims from entering the mosque on Thursday and Friday on the occasion of Jewish holidays. The mosque has been divided between Muslims and Jews and often Israel shuts it down to either members of the faith when the other has a religious event. Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, said this decision means Muslims will not be able to perform their religious rituals in the mosque for two consecutive days, including a Friday, the Muslim holy day. He expressed concern that this Israeli policy of dividing Muslim holy places between Muslims and Jews may also be enforced on al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is currently under full Muslim control. Muslims are worried that Israel is allowing more Jews, mainly fanatics, to enter al-Aqsa compound under the pretext of open visitation in order to create a permanent presence for Jews inside the Muslim holy place as a prelude to dividing it or possibly taking it over.

The Israeli police informed at least 10 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem not to be present in al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, Nasser Qous, head of the Jerusalem branch of the Palestinian Prisoner Club, said Tuesday. He said the police summoned the 10 Palestinians and warned them against being inside the Mosque or even in the Old City of Jerusalem as hundreds of Jewish settlers and fanatics plan to tour the Muslim compound on the occasion of Jewish holidays. Palestinian leaders have called on Muslims to be present in the Mosque on Wednesday to prevent any Israeli provocation against the Muslim holy place, which fanatic Israelis are calling for turning it into a Jewish worship site. Police has earlier arrested Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, for the same reason.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Izzat al-Risheq , warned of the Israeli continued violations against al-Aqsa mosque in light of the Arab and Islamic silence. He pointed out to the new tunnels discovered under al-Aqsa mosque. The Israeli occupation uses the negotiation with the PA as a cover to its continued crimes and Judaization schemes in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque. The Palestinian people will not accept waiving any inch of the Palestinian territories, he stressed. The leader in Hamas movement stressed the need to unite resistance efforts to address the Israeli schemes, saying that resistance is the only option to resist the occupier. Meanwhile, the Islamic-Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and the Holy Sites warned of the Jewish extremist groups' calls to storm into al-Aqsa mosque on Wednesday that coincides with the so-called the official Jewish New Year's Day. The commission pointed that the Israeli escalated break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque aim at taking control over the mosque and to open it permanently before the Jewish worshipers. The Commission warned of the continuing excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque that came in coincidence with the daily incursions into the courtyards of the mosque. The foundation called on the international community to put an end to the Israeli violations in the Muslim holy site. The Israeli Antiquities Authority has dug two new tunnels under al-Aqsa mosque. One of the two tunnels extends from Ein Silwan to settlements in the city of Dawoud passing through Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the second tunnel starts from al-Aqsa mosque heading north.

Israeli authorities will close the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Palestinian worshipers during the Jewish new year, a Palestinian official said Monday.

Israel informed the PA ministry of endowment that the mosque will be closed to Muslims on Thursday and Friday so settlers can celebrate new year at a synagogue on the same site, ministry official Tayseer Abu Sneina said.

Abu Sneina, head of the ministry's Hebron directorate, said the decision was "a violation of the sacredness of the Ibrahimi Mosque by the Israeli occupation and its settlers."

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage on Monday said Israel is expanding the tunnel network under the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through digging two extra tunnels. In a statement, the foundation said Israel Antiquities Authority started new excavations in the village of Silwan via digging in the west southern and north southern sides of the mosque. The foundation warned of the dangerous outcomes of such excavations on the bases of the mosque. Israel was targeting the mosque as part of its project to build the so-called Solomon temple at the site.

Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage revealed that the Israeli authorities led by the Antiquities Authority have dug two new tunnels under al-Aqsa mosque. In its statement issued on Sunday, the Foundation said that one of the two tunnels extends from Ein Silwan to settlements in the city of Dawoud passing through Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the second tunnel starts from al-Aqsa mosque heading north. The foundation has exposed photos documenting the digging of tunnels under the holy mosque. The statement warned of the continued excavations that disclosed the mosque's substructures. Al-Aqsa Foundation said that the Israeli authorities aim at linking the new main tunnel with the tunnels network in Silwan neighborhood and the Buraq square area and the old city. These new excavations constitute a real threat to al-Aqsa mosque, the Foundation pointed out. Israel is currently digging under the mosque in order to topple it aiming at replacing it with the alleged Temple.

Dozens of Jewish settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque’s esplanades on Sunday morning amidst tight Israeli police measures. The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said in a statement that around 65 settlers broke into the holy site via the Maghareba gate in two groups. It said that both groups toured the Mosque’s various walkways and sites and one of them offered Talmudic rituals at the eastern area of the Mosque. AFEH said that policemen restricted movement of students who tried to confront the settlers and block their tour, adding that the settlers badmouthed the students. The foundation revealed an Israeli security plan mainly stipulating the deployment of special forces in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish feasts that start next Wednesday to provide security measures for settlers who had announced plans to storm the holy site on that day. AFEH appealed to the Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic masses to take urgent and effective moves to protect the occupied Aqsa Mosque and not to be content with statements of condemnation in such a critical stage.

The Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands called on the Palestinians to come together next Wednesday from all occupied areas of Jerusalem, the West Bank and the green line, and march to the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against a possible desecration break-in by Jewish groups on the occasion of their new year. The Islamic and national forces in Jerusalem and its environs announced the setting up of a sit-in tent in support of the Aqsa Mosque on the roof of Al-Halawani house in Wadi Joz neighborhood and would be open to the public as of Tuesday. They said that a news conference would be held inside this tent on the latest developments in Jerusalem, especially the Jewish dangers threatening the Aqsa Mosque and the ways to confront them. For his part, Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement, had stated that his Movement's interaction with the issues of the Islamic nation, especially in Syria and Egypt, does not mean that it is not concerned about the dangers threatening Jerusalem and the holy Mosque.

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, warned of the Israeli intention to control the holy sites and the Islamic Wqf in Jerusalem. He said in a statement on Saturday that the Israeli occupation built towers near El-Buraq wall in an attempt to impose control on the area especially Bab El-Maghreba and EL-Buraq wall . "The Israeli occupation tries to legislate the attacks against Al-Aqsa mosque through its Knesst which issued decisions to support that," he added. He explained that the increasing aggression against Al-Aqsa was due to the critical circumstances in the region. The protection of Al-Aqsa is the responsibility of the Palestinians and the whole Arab world, he added.

The National Center for Studies and Documentation, run by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), issued a study revealing that Israel prepared a plan for constructing 3800 units for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.

The center said that the month of August witnessed a serious escalation in Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories.

It added that Israel licensed 63 new constructions in Jerusalem, and issued bids for the construction of 1200 in the occupied city.

Israel also prepared another plan for building 396 units on Palestinian lands in Beit Hanina, north of East Jerusalem.

Furthermore, the Jerusalem City Council also approved 1500 units near Shu’fat town, north of occupied Jerusalem, while the Higher Construction and Planning Committee of the Israeli “Civil Administration Office" in the West Bank, approved the construction of 878 units near Ramallah and other areas in the West Bank.

Israel also approved the construction of 230 units in Maon settlement, east of Yatta, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, warned of exploiting the regional developments in favor of Israeli Judaization schemes in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque. Al-Aqsa mosque is daily subjected to settlers' attacks and break-ins under Israeli soldiers' protection. These escalated attacks came as a prelude to implement more serious schemes in light of the international preoccupation with the regional developments. Khudari called on media outlets to expose the Israeli Judaization schemes in al-Aqsa mosque, demanding an Arab and Islamic protection to the Islamic holy site. He greeted the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite worshipers and students stationed at al-Aqsa mosque, calling on Jerusalemites and Palestinians in West Bank and the green line areas to march to the Aqsa Mosque. For his part, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, the head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, called on the Palestinian natives in Jerusalem and the green line areas to march to the Aqsa Mosque next Wednesday to defend it against declared Jewish intentions to violate its sanctity on that day. In the same context, dozens of extremist settlers and Israeli intelligence elements have stormed Thursday al-Aqsa mosque through the Mughrabi Gate under Israeli forces' protection. More than 70 Israeli settlers and 40 Intelligence elements have desecrated al-Aqsa courtyards and broke into the mosques, eyewitnesses confirmed.

PLO Executive Committee Member and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat condemned in a press statement issued by PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Friday, the Israeli attempt to impose its own educational system on Palestinian schools in Palestine's Capital, East Jerusalem:

"Israel has been trying to change the status quo of Jerusalem since its occupation in 1967. In addition to policies of settlement construction and forced displacement, Israel has tried, on several occasions, to impose its own educational curriculum on Palestinian schools."

"This act, like many others, is a blatant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. By imposing its educational curriculum on schools in Occupied East Jerusalem, Israel shows that it has no intention of ending its 46-year old occupation, but rather seeks to consolidate the illegal annexation of Palestinian land," stressed Erekat.

Erekat added, "For the past few years, increasing pressure has been applied on various Palestinian schools in the city, including Christian and Muslim schools and other private institutions, in order to change the educational curriculum. Incentives such as raising salaries and subsidies for schools that adopt the Israeli system were presented with limited success and acceptance. However, this new academic year 2013 – 2014 will witness five important Palestinian schools in Occupied East Jerusalem teaching the Israeli educational curriculum for some of their classes. The schools are Sur Baher Boys School, Sur Baher Girls School, Ibn Khaldoun School, Ibn Rashid School and Abdullah Bin Al Hussein School."

"We consider this Israeli step an attempt to rewrite our history and undermine our national identity. We support the actions that are being taken by our student organizations, civil society organizations, parent's unions and teachers in order to prevent this abhorrent situation from being realized, including their call for peaceful demonstrations," concluded Erekat.

Some of the material that the Israeli curriculum for Palestinian children will include is:

· Maps showing the Occupied State of Palestine, excluding Gaza, as part of the State of Israel. Hebrew Biblical names are used for Palestinian cities (i.e Shkhem rather than Nablus) in order to justify Israel's occupation.

· References to Jerusalem as Israel's capital, although this is not recognized by any country, particularly not by Palestine.

· The Israeli Annexation Wall described as a "security fence."

· Despite severe violations to Palestinian rights in the city, students will be taught that Israel is a "bastion of human rights and democracy."

· In one section of the book, a conversation between Arab students praising an alleged development supposedly brought by Israel to Palestinian cities. The students conclude by singing the Israeli National anthem in gratitude for all Israel has done for them.

· Important Palestinian commemorations such as Al Nakba, Independence Day, President Yasser Arafat's death or the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People are not included in the textbooks.

It's worth mentioning that currently there are around 110,000 Palestinian children living in Occupied East Jerusalem. 84% of the Palestinian children in the city live in poverty.

According to the statement, there are 139 kindergartens and 207 schools in Occupied East Jerusalem. Among the 83 private schools, 40 belong to the Islamic Waqf, 18 are private schools, 17 are Christian schools (including Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Armenian and Coptic) and 8 belong to UNRWA, providing education to Palestinian refugees. The Israeli Occupation Municipality has 54 municipal schools and works with another 70 other schools that are recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education.

Currently there is a shortage of 1100 classrooms for Palestinian students in Occupied East Jerusalem, including classrooms that have to be repaired and no less than 400 new classrooms needed. Only last week, Israel ordered the partial demolition of a Palestinian Elementary School in Khan al Ahmar, within the Jerusalem Governorate. Needless to say, Israel continues to build settlements in Occupied East Jerusalem, including schools for Jewish settlers, radical Jewish religious schools and a planned Military Academy at Mount of Olives, the statement added.

The head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah has called on Palestinians living in Jerusalem and inside the Green Line to defend the Aqsa Mosque next Wednesday against the possibility of Jewish extremists desecrating the Mosque. Sheikh Salah made his remarks in a khutba (sermon). He said, "A few days ago, specifically on August 21, we commemorated the anniversary of the criminal arson attack on the Aqsa Mosque, and it is known that the perpetrator or the criminal who was used to burn the Aqsa Mosque is called Michael Dennis Rohan, but as we started to collect leads and finding clues, we came to believe that the occupation was behind that crime and sponsored its occurrence, hoping then to erase the holy Aqsa Mosque from existence," according to a Palestinian news source. Sheikh Salah warned that there has been talk in the Jewish communities about a plan to violate the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, and he urged any Palestinian who is able to come to the Mosque and defend it with their presence.

Islamic Jerusalemite institutions have warned of the Israeli scheme to establish a Jewish synagogue in the Buraq square in al-Aqsa mosque as part of the Jewish Sharansky plan backed by Netanyahu. In a joint statement, the Head of the Awqaf Council Sheikh Abdel Azim Salhab, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, and Sheikh Dr. Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council, stated that the Israeli authorities work at changing the Islamic character of the Buraq wall that was set as an Islamic Waqf by international resolutions after Buraq revolution in 1929. The occupation authorities seek to destroy the Islamic civilization in the Umayyad palaces in total violation to international laws and norms, which prevent any attempt to make changes in Jerusalem as an occupied city that is officially included on the List of World Heritage in danger. Israel works for Judaizing and taking control over al-Aqsa mosque which is a part of the Muslims' creed, the statement added, demanding an Arab and Islamic protection for the Islamic holy site. For his part, Secretary General of Islamic-Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites, Hanna Issa, stated that the Judaization project, that is intended to be established in Buraq square, targets the whole area of al-Aqsa mosque. He pointed out that the escalated Israeli break-ins into and violations in al-Aqsa mosque aim at wiping out the Islamic and Arab heritage and monuments in occupied Jerusalem. In a related context, the occupation forces issued an order that banned the teacher Hanadi Halawani from having access to al-Aqsa Mosque under the guise of "maintaining security." For its part, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage condemned the Israeli ban that came in light of Israeli restrictions against Muslim worshipers and students at the mosque. Meanwhile, the Israeli extreme right wing activist Aryeh King, who is running in the Jerusalem municipal elections, has vowed to prevent Muslim call to prayer in the city of Jerusalem. He promised "to clean the capital's parks of Arabs and lower the volume on the muezzins", saying that he will work at improving quality of life in Jerusalem's peripheries. His ad states:“Muezzin? [Muslim call to prayer] We must have King [to silence them]”