Israeli army undertakes simulated training exercises of clashes at Al- Aqsa Mosque

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Heritage and Endowment has revealed that large contingents from the Israeli army took part in extensive military exercises on Wednesday evening (21.07.2010) in apparent preparation for “critical events that may occur in Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

In a written statement, the foundation confirmed that its staff had visited the site in Ben-Shemen Moshav where the Israeli army is carrying out its training. Officials from the Foundation saw large and multiple contingents of the Israeli army and police in addition to special- forces vehicles in what looked like a military camp. Israeli forces have constructed various models of the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa mosque and the alleged Temple of Solomon and thousands of police officers were deployed between these models at the training site. A green plastic cordon has been erected around the training area.

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According to eye witnesses from the Foundation, the training included scenarios of major events at the Mosque as well as maneuvers for the Israeli army to break into the mosque with army units using various kinds of bombs. The scenarios also included the Palestinians’ reactions to these events inside Al-Aqsa.

The spokesman of the so-called “border guards” has claimed that the exercises were being carried out in preparation for the month of Ramadan. According to him, there may be stone-throwing incidents during the holy month Ramadan.

In response to these developments, the attorney Zahi Nujeidat, spokesman of the Palestinian Islamic Movement (1948) said, “It is no secret that the Israeli establishment’s dream; day and night, is to build the alleged temple at the expense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. On the ground, this establishment carries out actual attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque. These “exercises” expose the ideas, intentions and schemes that are being plotted for Al-Aqsa Mosque in the internal corridors of the Israeli establishment.”