Al-Azhar, the top Islamic body, and the Arab League condemned Israel’s attempts to alter the identity of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa holy mosque, the most recent of which was the opening of the so-called “pilgrim’s road” tunnel in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
Al-Azhar reiterated its firm position on the Palestinian issue and its absolute rejection of any measures that would in any way infringe the rights of the Palestinian people to regain their land and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The top Islamic body stressed that the continued violations of the Israeli occupation will only ignite the situation in the region and the world.
The participation of the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, at the inauguration of the tunnel proves the American administration’s absolute bias and full adoption of these settlement projects in violation of international consensus and legitimacy, Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and occupied Arab lands, Saeed Abu Ali, said in a statement.
Abu Ali warned of the serious consequences, and stressed that these Israeli practices constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, which consider Jerusalem an occupied city and an exclusive Islamic heritage according to the laws of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
