Popular anti-Judaisation group meets Supreme Council of Egypt's armed forces

A delegation of the Popular Campaign against the Judaisation of Jerusalem has met with members of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in Egypt. The meeting took place in Cairo on Wednesday 16 November; the agenda included a discussion on the latest developments in occupied Jerusalem.

The Campaign delegation was led by coordinator Dr Jamal Abdul Salam. He told Quds Press that his members wanted to tell the SCAF about “the recent damaging developments undertaken by the Israeli occupation authorities in Jerusalem” concerning the Judaisation of the city. These include the proposed demolition of the Moroccan Gate Bridge on November 25, and the announcement of the construction of 52,000 housing units for illegal settlers in Jerusalem.

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Dr Abdul Salam added that the delegation included the campaign president Dr. Mohamed Amara, his deputy Dr. Safwat Hijazi, the campaign spokesperson Salah Sultan and Haja Yasmine Alhosary. He pointed out that the campaign plans to arrange a “million-man march” on the 25th of November in response to the Israeli threats to Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as an international campaign to put pressure on the Israeli government.

While in Cairo, the Campaign delegation met with the Grand Shaikh of Al-Azhar University and Mosque, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayyeb. The Grand Shaikh issued a warning about the seriousness of the Israeli plan to demolish the Moroccan Gate Bridge, which leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque and is considered to be part of the Noble Sanctuary. “We need to address these plans with a serious effort to bring pride to our people and our countries,” he said.

Dr Al-Tayyeb told the delegation that he is drafting a document on Jerusalem that all faith and political groups in Egypt would agree on, whether Muslims, Copts, political parties or trade unions. He added that for this purpose a cultural centre operating under the supervision of Al-Azhar is about to be established with a syllabus which will enhance students’ knowledge about Jerusalem and the Islamic holy sites in Palestine as well as the Israeli occupation and its damaging effects. The Grand Shaikh is to appeal to the leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries to take a stand against the provocative actions of the Israeli occupation forces.

According to the anti-Judaisation Campaign President, Dr. Mohamed Amara, “Israeli Judaisation lacks legal legitimacy and contradicts the fact of Jerusalem’s Arab history”. He reminded people that just as the Crusader occupation of Jerusalem – which lasted much longer than the Israelis’ – came to an end, so too will Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Dr Amara added: “With the Judaisation of Jerusalem, the Israeli occupation is crossing the red lines of the worldwide Muslim Ummah, made up of a quarter of humanity, and the Arab spring is opening new avenues for a new era in the Arab World.”

Campaign spokesman Dr. Salah Sultan said that, “The situation is serious, and a strong movement in Egypt and the Arab states supported by Al-Azhar would have a significant impact at a time when the Israelis are preparing for the demolition of the Moroccan Gate Bridge.” He stressed the need for November 25th to be declared as the “Day of Rage for Jerusalem”.