OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has warned of the approaching Jewish holiday season, describing it as “one of the most dangerous seasons yet” for the reality on the ground in Occupied Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque compound.
“The danger does not lie only in the growing number of settlers entering the holy site, but also in the nature of the practices that extremist groups may attempt to impose inside the Mosque,” Sheikh Sabri said
According to Sheikh Sabri, historical precedents show that Jewish holidays have evolved beyond religious observances for the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) and extremist settler groups, saying that these occasions are now exploited to escalate measures in Jerusalem and impose new faits accomplis at the Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Sabri explained that the IOA uses holiday seasons to appease far-right Jewish groups demanding more control over the Aqsa Mosque, reflecting the growing influence of these groups within Israel’s political and security establishment.
“What is happening at the Aqsa Mosque should not be read as isolated incidents or individual violations, but rather as part of a gradual process through which the IOA seeks to move from temporary tours to imposing new faits accomplis on the ground,” Sheikh Sabri said.
