Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib: Jerusalem Endowment's discharge must be reviewed

In his first appearance after being banned by the Israeli occupation authorities, Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, Vice President of the Islamic Movement in 48 Palestine, warned of the multiple dangers that afflict the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and strongly demanded a reassessment of the performance of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf (Islamic Endowments Department) in occupied Jerusalem.

In an exclusive interview with Arabi21, Al-Khatib explained that “the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque have recently seen unprecedented developments, in an attempt to prove Israeli political, security and religious sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

He added, “Manifestations of prayer, performing religious rituals, conducting marriage contracts, raising palm fronds on holidays, entering the al-Aqsa Mosque in priests’ clothes and blowing the trumpet are to be seen.”

He stressed that all of the above-mentioned “was undoubtedly a prelude to an attempt to prove Israeli sovereignty,” noting that “the major theatrical play that took place recently when the Israeli Magistrate’s Court approved the permissibility of Jews praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque, provided that the prayers are silent.”

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Al-Khatib continued: “Then, a day later, the Central Court came to cancel this decision, as if there was Israeli justice and an Israeli understanding of our right to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Arab and official media cheered for the political regimes for this decision and this, in fact, was a step further in fraud.”

He drew attention that “the fact that we accepted that Al-Aqsa Mosque case is presented to the Israeli occupation through its courts, is itself a recognition of its sovereignty, so we will never accept; not that the Al-Aqsa Mosque case is decided upon, neither the Magistrate’s Court nor the Central Court.”

He stressed that “taking our right can only be through the demise of this occupation, and our full Islamic sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque,” warning against the danger of “promoting these deceptions, tricks and media fabrications, so that we do not get carried away and feel reassured by this occupation, and never believe that it has good intentions for the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Regarding the position of the Islamic Endowments Department in managing the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Khatib stressed that it “needs a review, just because there certain things that no one can understand when entering Al-Aqsa Mosque”, and called for “serious work to be done to impose sovereignty and guardianship via The Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Endowments Department, which enjoys global Arab and Islamic support.

He addressed them: “You are not weak to be in the conditions that we see now. Therefore, I demand a serious review of the policy and the discharge of some individuals there, so that we are not taken for granted in light of these conditions.”

He pointed out that the third thing he wants to address is that “the past year, specifically in the last month of Ramadan, incursions took place that led to the “gift of dignity” and the violent events that took place, as a victory for Al-Aqsa Mosque, and then the month of October has seen attacks and violations.”

He suggested that “during 2022 Ramadan, which coincides with the Jewish holidays in their first version, in the month of April, there will inevitably be major events in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

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The fourth point that the deputy of the Islamic movement touched on was the manifestations of Israeli violations, their exacerbation, and encouragement, and attributed this to three reasons, namely normalisation, coordination, and renewal.

He explained to Arabi21 that “normalisation concerns the Arab regimes that are racing and rushing to normalise their relations with Israel, and even reached the point that their delegates, tourists and visitors, pray against the Al-Buraq Wall, claiming that it is the “Wailing Wall”, instead of reaching the Qiblah of Muslims, as the Bahraini delegation did.

Al-Khatib continued: “The role of security coordination played by the Ramallah Authority poses a danger to Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque,” ​​noting that “the third role is related to renewal, and I mean here the presence of an Arab party supporting the government of Naftali Bennett, which is now desecrating Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is the United Arab List party (Ra’am), headed by Mansour Abbas.”

He believed that the Ra’am party now “gives cover, whether it likes it or not, to these incursions,” noting that “the Bennett government feels comfortable and reassured of its right to do what it wants and feels safe to form its government.”