'Hurva synagogue prelude to al-Aqsa destruction'

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120935&sectionid=351020202


The Gaza-based head of al-Quds International Institution warns against the reopening of Hurva synagogue as part of an Israeli plan to erect a Jewish temple on al-Aqsa ruins.

In an interview with al-Alam, Dr. Ahmed Abu Halabiya on Monday described the restoration of Hurva as part of a project to destruct al-Aqsa, some 700 meters away, and build the Israeli claimed Solomon's Temple in its place.

Israeli officials have reportedly called on Israelis to march into the al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, highly revered as the third holiest site in the Muslim world.

Abu Halabiya called on Palestinian officials to take legal action through international organizations, such as the United Nations and the international Criminal Court in The Hague, and press for the trial of Israeli officials for the violations in al-Quds.

The Hamas MP in the Palestinian legislative body said protecting al-Quds's Islamic identity is a responsibility not only for the Palestinians, but all Muslims across the globe.

Also on Monday, Palestinian groups convened in Gaza city at a conference on al-Quds, calling on the Muslim ummah and the Arab world to stand up against Israel's provocations in the holy city.

They warned the Israeli regime against any violation against the al-Aqsa Mosque and vowed to defend their religion and sanctities if Israel risks igniting a religious war in the region.

The Monday meeting was attended by representatives from most Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, however, refused to participate.
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Iran Grills Israel over Synagogue Reopening



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120943&sectionid=351020101


Iran has deplored Israel's reopening of a synagogue near al-Aqsa mosque, demanding the international community to take action against the move.

Israel on Monday reopened the Hurva synagogue in East Jerusalem (al-Quds), as part of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Israel's "heritage."

The move has sparked protests by Palestinians in the holy city and elsewhere in the West Bank. Clashes have also been reported between the police and angry Palestinians.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on Tuesday condemned Israel's move as a “catastrophe that has distressed the Islamic world.”

He said the world community was expected to stand up against the move.

“We condemn the move and call on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Arab League and the United Nations to take appropriate measures to stop this occupying regime,” Mehmanparast said.

He also condemned Israel's plan to increase settlement activities.

Israel announced last week that it would erect 1,600 new settler houses in al-Quds, as US Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel over the so-called peace talks with the Palestinians.

Mehmanparast said Biden's visit was not aimed at stopping Israel from settlement activities, saying it was, in fact, a “cover-up” for Israel's measures.

He said the US had to take into account “numerous considerations” when it came to Israel.

Although the US criticized Israel for stalling peace talks through settlement activities, it backed Israel's reopening of the rebuilt synagogue.

The US State Department said Palestinians' criticisms of the reopening of the building could "only serve to heighten tensions.”

Despite Israel's insistence that there is no political motives behind the move, the reopening of the synagogue is regarded as part of Israel's plan to judaize al-Quds.

Head of al-Quds international institution, Dr. Ahmed Abu Halabiya, said the reopening of Hurva synagogue in al-Quds was part of an Israeli plan "to build a Jewish temple on al-Aqsa ruins."

Hatem Abdel Qader, the Palestinian Authority's official in charge of al-Quds affairs also expressed concern over what he described as "not just a synagogue."

"We warn against this action by the Zionist enemy to rebuild and dedicate the Hurva synagogue. It signifies the destruction of the al-Aqsa mosque and the building of the temple," he said.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam's third holiest location.
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US backs Israel on synagogue amid alleged rows



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120927&sectionid=351020202

Israel has reopened a synagogue in East Jerusalem (al-Quds) in a move backed by the US, igniting angry protests by Palestinians in the holy city and elsewhere in the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took pride in the reopening of the Hurva synagogue, around 700 meters from the al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Qud's Old City, as part of Israel's "heritage."

"We permit believers of other faiths to conserve their places of worship. We proudly protect our heritage, while at the same time allowing others freedom of religion," he said in a video message.

But Palestinians both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip joined to condemn the move which came amid highly stepped up security and the deployment of thousands of Israeli soldiers in Muslims' third holy city of al-Quds.

Head of al-Quds international institution, Dr. Ahmed Abu Halabiya, warned the reopening of Hurva synagogue in al-Quds was part of an Israeli plan "to build a Jewish temple on al-Aqsa ruins."

Head of the Hamas political bureau Khaled Meshaal slammed Tel Aviv's "falsification of history," saying, "Israel is playing with fire and touching off the first spark to make the region explode."

Hatem Abdel Qader, the Palestinian Authority's official in charge of al-Quds affairs, expressed concern over what he described as "not just a synagogue."

"This synagogue will be a prelude to violence, extremism and religious fanaticism, and that will not be limited to extremist Jews but includes members of the Israeli government," he warned.

"We warn against this action by the Zionist enemy to rebuild and dedicate the Hurva synagogue. It signifies the destruction of the al-Aqsa mosque and the building of the temple."

The US State Department, however, criticized Palestinian comments for "mischaracterizing the event in question, which can only serve to heighten the tensions we see."

Monday's reopening ceremony, which Netanyahu said symbolized religious coexistence, came while Palestinian men under the age of 50 along with non-Muslims were barred from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a fourth day following clashes between the police and Palestinians.

Hamas on Tuesday announced a "day of rage" in response to the dedication of the restored synagogue in East al-Quds, promoting a red alert warning from Israeli officials who deployed some 3,000 troops in the area.

The US support for the controversial reopening of the synagogue raises serious questions over a purported dispute between Tel Aviv and Washington over the continued Israeli settlement construction.

Some analysts argue that the ostensible tensions are to provide a cover for Israel's encroach upon Palestinian and Islamic identity of East al-Quds, long demanded by Palestinians as the capital city of their future Palestinian state.