Jewish extremists drink wine in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Palestinians in Jerusalem and Israel have denounced the desecration of the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa by Jewish extremists, who drank bottles of wine in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque while celebrating a Jewish holiday. The National Union for Jerusalem Families condemned the extremists for storming into the sanctuary and stressed that Arabs and Muslims must wake up to the fact that the third holiest site in Islam, Al-Aqsa Mosque, is under serious threat from extremist Jews.

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Al Aqsa Foundation for 1948 Palestinians (those who stayed in their homeland when Israel was created in Palestine in 1948) also condemned the act and noted that such acts appear to be condoned by the Israeli occupation authorities. The foundation said that the constant presence of Muslim worshippers throughout the year could help to protect Al Aqsa from such desecration.

The latest outrage was also denounced by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein; the Imam of Al Aqsa mosque, Sheikh Ekrema Sabri; the Jerusalem members of the Palestinian Legislative Council seeking refuge in the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Fatah’s Revolutionary Council member Hatem Abdel Qader.

According to the guards within Al-Aqsa, a large group of extremist Jews stormed into the occupied Old City and marched in the vicinity of the mosque’s gates. A number then infiltrated the mosque through the Magharba Gate. The Jewish extremists were guarded by Israeli police officers and bodyguards. They opened bottles of wine in the mosque courtyard in celebration of Shavuot, the day on which observant Jews believe Prophet Moses received the Torah.