Israel prevents former Al-Aqsa Mosque official from travel

Israeli Interior Minister Ariyeh Deri prevented Tuesday the former director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Bkeerat from travel for six months, Anadolu reported.

Deri signed the ban, which was handed over to the Sheikh. The ban accused the Sheikh, who is currently the head of Al-Aqsa Academy for Science and Heritage, of “taking part in Hamas activity abroad.”

In the ban notice, Deri said that he had received information that “caused real worries” to him regarding the travel of Sheikh Bkeerat from the country because “this will reinforce Hamas’ activities inside the country and this poses danger on the state’s security.”

The sheikh is an inhabitant of Jabal al-Mukabber in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli police has been renewing a ban on his entrance to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Read: Israel bans children playing in Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard

Deri said in the ban notice that it could be extended to three extra months.

It is worth mentioning that Israel prevents tens of Palestinians from East Jerusalem from travel or entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque for periods ranges between weeks and months.