Israel’s Knesset speaker, settlers storm Al-Aqsa

Jewish settlers are protected by Israeli security forces as they enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound [File Photo: Mahfouz Abu Turk/Apaimages]

A group of right-wing Israeli settlers yesterday entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound accompanied by both the current and former Speakers of the Knesset.

A statement by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf said many of the Palestinians praying at the mosque were angered by senior officials Moshe Feiglin and Yuli Edelstein storming Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Read: Israeli settlers control water resources in West Bank village

Twenty settlers and 53 students of the extreme right camp were amongst the Israelis who entered the mosque’s compound.

During the 2014 war on Gaza, former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin said: “Gaza is part of our land and we will remain there forever.”

This comes two weeks after Israel’s parliament allowed its Jewish members to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli media sources said the parliament took the decision following pressure from right-wing blocs.

In June 2016, the Ethics Committee of the parliament upheld a ban on Palestinian and Israeli lawmakers entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, fearful the ruling could increase already heightened tensions in the occupied territories. However, the committee recommended the ban be removed once calm prevailed.

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