PA condemns Senegal FM following visit to Al-Aqsa

The Palestinian Authority (PA) yesterday slammed Senegalese Foreign Minister Sidiki Kaba after he visited Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied with Jewish settlers and under the protection of Israeli occupation police, the Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement, the PA foreign ministry said this is not the way to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque. It added that was saddened by Kaba’s visit to the holy site under Israeli protection and with an Israeli flag pin on his clothes.

“We hope that our friend the Republic of Senegal apologises for what’s happened,” the statement said, describing the visit as a “violation” of the consensus of the Organisation of Islamic Conference and a “dangerous precedent” in the history of Senegalese-Palestinian relations.

According to Anadolu, Jerusalem’s Religious Endowments Authority and Higher Islamic Council said it was angry that Kaba’s visit had not been coordinated with the Palestinian side.

Read: Israel court allows Jewish settlers to pray at Al-Aqsa gates

“The Senegalese foreign minister visited Al-Aqsa this morning accompanied by Israeli police and in the absence of any coordination with Jerusalem’s Waqf authorities,” Al-Aqsa Mosque Director Omar Kiswani told the Anadolu Agency.

“We did not formally greet him, as his visit was arranged through the Israeli occupation authorities and not through us,” he said.