Jerusalem – praag.org

Turkish president wants focus on Jerusalem

Nothing in the western media covered what the Turkish Anadulu Agency released, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech this Friday.

Erdogan called on all Turks to refocus on the Ottoman goal to re-conquer Jerusalem for Islam:

“Unfortunately we the Muslims lost our aim to head towards Jerusalem. The water of our eyes froze making us blind, and our hearts that was destined to beat for Jerusalem is now instead conditioned for rivalry being in a state of war with each other.”

Erdogan’s desire to end strife and unite Sunnis and Shiites to aim towards Jerusalem was made in the state of Erzincan, central Turkey.

Turkish president called on citizens to “raise their hands in supplication for this blessed night towards Allah to restore the Al-Aqsa Mosque [Jerusalem] to be re-owned by Muslims, and to remove the mist from their eyes, to see Jerusalem in their hands at every moment and at every opportunity”.

Erdogan added: “When you mention the word ascension; the first thing that comes to mind is Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque,” while he expressed deep regret for the condition of Muslim heedlessness for Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem.

Such reflections were also made by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu recently, that “Jerusalem belongs to the Muslims, not to the Jews,” while criticizing the leader of the co-party Peoples Democratic opposition, Salahuddin Dmirattash, in which he said in opposition to the Islamist rhetoric of Davutoglu.

Erdogan also said that he wanted Spain. Tariq Bin Ziad, the conqueror of Spain, the tyrant Alp Arslan, and Saladin are the Muslim leaders who fought Christendom and Saladin was the one who conquered Jerusalem.

‘Israel’s attempts to change Jerusalem status should be annulled’

Israel’s attempts to change Jerusalem status should be annulled, the Palestinian ambassador urged.

The State of Palestine asked the UN General Assembly to get Israel to annul all measures to change the status of Jerusalem which under international accords should remain a capital of two states.

All Israeli measures, including the extension of the so-called ‘basic law’ should be cancelled immediately, Palestinian permanent observer at the UN Riyad Mansour said.

‘The basic law’ which Israel’s unicameral national legislature Knesset adopted in 1980 proclaims united Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Several countries have expressed deep concern over the rising tensions in Arab-dominated East Jerusalem, stressing the need for restraint and avoidance of provocation.

Marking the International day of solidarity with the Palestinian People, India called for dialogue as the “only viable option” for a durable, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue.

“We hope that both sides will demonstrate the necessary political will to return to the negotiating table and resume dialogue,” he said, adding that India supports a negotiated solution, resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel.

India called for the blockade on Gaza to be fully lifted and humanitarian supplies and desperately-needed materials for reconstruction be allowed in without restrictions.

The fighting, which raged from July 8 to August 26, saw entire neighbourhoods in the Strip flattened, and almost one-third of Gaza’s population uprooted.

The violence killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, and more than 70 Israelis while also damaging or destroying over 100,000 homes.

India is implementing development projects in Palestine, jointly with Brazil and South Africa within the framework of IBSA, and has pledged a million dollars for a new project to reconstruct the Atta Habib medical centre in Gaza.

Spain’s parliament calls for recognition of Palestine

The Spanish parliament supported Palestine’s recognition in a symbolic vote Tuesday.

Spanish Congress of Deputies (lower chamber of the parliament) has called on the government to recognize Palestine as a state in a non-binding motion.

According to a member of parliament and former Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, the “formal and symbolic recognition” of Palestine by the parliament should spur peace talks, RIA Novosti reporter said.

In late October Britain held a similar vote that recognized the Palestinian state. France is to have symbolic voting on November 28.

Sweden officially recognized the state of Palestine on October 30, becoming the first EU country to do so.

Palestinians seek the creation of an independent state on the territories of the West Bank in East Jerusalem, partially occupied by Israel, as well as on the Gaza Strip territory controlled by Hamas militants. Palestine has designated Jerusalem as its capital and calls on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories it took after the 1967 war.

Israel shuts down Al-Asqa Mosque

‘The decision to close the site was very dangerous and irrational, it would lead to destabilization and a strengthening of tensions not only in Jerusalem, but in the entire region’

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has been closed to all worshipers for the first time since 1967. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called the closure a ‘declaration of war.’

Both Jewish and Muslim worshipers will be prohibited from visiting the site “until further notice,” Israel’s public security minister said. Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “a significant hike” in the number of police forces patrolling Jerusalem, Naharnet daily reports.

Palestinian authorities quickly responded to the move, saying it was a “dangerous and blatant challenge” that would lead to more tension and instability in an already volatile situation.

“This dangerous Israeli escalation is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people and its sacred places and on the Arab and Islamic nation,” Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina quoted him as saying.

“We hold the Israeli government responsible for this dangerous escalation in Jerusalem that has reached its peak through the closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque this morning,” he told AFP.

He added that the state of Palestinian would employ all legal means to “hold Israel accountable” and put an end to “these ongoing attacks.”

Omar Al-Kiswani, director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, told RT the decision to close the site was very dangerous and irrational, saying it would lead to destabilization and a strengthening of tensions not only in Jerusalem, but in the entire region. He said the situation in Jerusalem has been turbulent as a result of the closure.

Source:RT

‘Extremist Jews’ vandalise Arab area in Jerusalem

In an unrelated incident, Israeli mounted police confront Palestinian protestors in Arab East Jerusalem (file photo)

Police say vandals have slashed car tires in an Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem, the latest in a series of similar incidents blamed on a fringe group of extremists.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said ten cars were damaged in the Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa early Tuesday. The words “price tag” was sprayed on walls nearby. The phrase is used by a small group of Jewish extremists to protest what they perceive as the Israeli government’s pro-Palestinian policies.

The acts have been condemned by Israeli leaders across the political spectrum. Police said they are investigating.

Mosques, churches, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases have been targeted by the vandals in recent years. Two weeks ago a monastery near Jerusalem was defaced. – AP