'Israeli government involved in daily raids on Al-Aqsa'

General Director of Endowment, Holy and Islamic Sites in Jerusalem Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khatib accused the Israeli government of being involved in the daily raids by Jewish settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque, Quds Press reported yesterday.

Israel is trying to impose a new status quo on the ground and force the Endowment Department to apply Israeli laws, Al-Khatib warned.

He stressed that the Israeli plans will not be achieved whatever the cost, even if all renovation works around Al-Aqsa Mosque are stopped.

Speaking during a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights James Heenan to the main office of the Endowment Department in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Khatib praised the UN’s role in maintaining human rights.

During the visit, he briefed the UN official about the Israeli aggression on the Islamic site since the start of the 1967 occupation began.

Heenan stressed the importance of cooperation between the Endowment Department and his office in order to follow up on the Israeli violations.