Muslim elders urge faithful to return to Al Aqsa after Israel backtracks

Record ID: 904381

  • Title: Muslim elders urge faithful to return to Al Aqsa after Israel backtracks
  • Date: 27th July 2017
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) ABDEL-AZEEM SALHAB, HEAD OF THE WAQF COUNCIL, CONVENING NEWS CONFERENCE PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDEL-AZEEM SALHAB, HEAD OF THE WAQF COUNCIL, SAYING: "We looked at the report of the technical committee who assured us that the obstacles the occupation (Israel) put outside the gates of the holy al-Aqsa mosque and along the ways leading to were removed and this is a victory to our nation after efforts were made to remove these gates (referring to the metal detectors)." PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDEL-AZEEM SALHAB, HEAD OF THE WAQF COUNCIL, SAYING: "The destructive Israeli occupation tried to break the will of this nation, the Palestinian nation and especially the Jerusalemites, they stood proudly. And we want them to keep standing to defend the holy al-Aqsa mosque, outside the gates of the holy al-Aqsa mosque and now, God willing, inside the gates of the holy al-Aqsa mosque." MORE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2017 09:44
  • Keywords: Israel Palestinians Jerusalem unrest tension Al-Aqsa compound Temple Mount Waqf
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City: JERUSALEM
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016RHSQX3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Muslim elders encouraged faithful to return to pray at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday (July 27) after deeming that Israel had removed all security measures installed after an attack in the Old City earlier this month that sparked violence.
    The elders announced their decision after a report from the Waqf, a Jordaninan-backed body that oversees the Muslim religious sites in Jerusalem. Israel installed metal detectors, cameras and other measures following a July 14 attack in which two policemen were shot dead. Days of violent protests followed.
    Addressing a news conference in Jerusalem, the head of the Waqf, Abdel-Azeem Salhab, urged worshippers to return to the site.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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