More than 14,000 Israelis entered the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa in 2015, AlKhaleejonline.com reported on Friday. Most of the intruders were from extremist Jewish settler groups.
This figure, explained the Information Centre for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, almost matched the number for 2014, which was recorded as 14,952. There was a decrease in the number of Israeli officials who entered the mosque in 2015 compared to previous years.
The centre broke down the statistics in the following groups: 12,256 settlers; 1,056 Israeli intelligence officers; 445 soldiers; and 307 other officials, as well as a number of employees from the Israeli Antiquities Authority. The numbers taking part in incursions tends to rise during Jewish holidays, it added, noting that the Israeli police usually facilitate their entrance from Al-Magharbeh Gate.
Although employees of the Islamic Endowment Department, which is affiliated to the Jordanian government, protest against the raids, the Israelis ignore them and often direct their violence against them.
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