New Israeli tunnels target Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Heritage and Endowments has revealed a new Israeli plan that aims to surround Al-Aqsa Mosque with underground tunnels. In a written statement issued on 16th August, the foundation said, “Through this scheme, the occupation authorities seek to establish tunnels connecting Alsharaf Lane, which is called the Jewish Lane, with the Buraq yard and Al-Aqsa Mosque”. It pointed out that it unveiled this scheme a year and a half ago.

The association said that news about the tunnels dominated the first page of the Israeli newspaper Maariv on Monday, which is considered by many to mean that the Israeli government has approved the scheme. Not only do the tunnels threaten the foundations of the sacred site, but they will also allow for ease of deployment of police or soldiers during any future raid on the mosque compound, Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary).

The foundation added that the announcement of the project “coincides with an acknowledgement by the Israeli minister of police of a major exercise conducted by the occupation forces simulating a huge raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque”.