Egyptian Grand Mufti condemns torching of mosque in West Bank by Israeli settlers
In a statement issued on Friday, Allam declared his support of the Palestinian people in their march for return and in defending Jerusalem.
Earlier on Friday, a group of Israeli Jewish settlers torched the Mosque of Sheikh Saada in the West Bank village of Aqraba near Nablus, writing anti-Islam and anti-Arab graffiti on its walls.
The Mufti’s statement comes as a new round deadly clashes between Palestinian protesters in Israeli-besieged Gaza and Israeli occupation forces continue for a third day.
On Friday, tens of Palestinians, including medics, were wounded by Israeli military.
Since 30 March, Israeli occupation forces have killed 33 Palestinian protesters and wounded hundreds of others, who are demanding the Right of Return and opposing Israeli and US policies on Jerusalem.
Allam said that this was “not the first nor the last” instance of such an attack on Palestinians, which he described as part of continuous attacks by the Israeli occupation and Jewish settlers in occupied Palestinian territories.
The Grand Mufti – who heads Dar Al-Itfa, which is the main authority in charge of issuing religious edicts in Egypt – stressed the necessity of activating UN resolutions against any moves to change the demographics of Jerusalem.
Allam also demanded that all Islamic and Arab countries, as well as international organisations, intensify efforts to support the Palestinians and UN and EU resolutions supporting their rights.
In early April, Egypt condemned Israeli “use of excessive violence against peaceful Palestinian protesters.”
Egypt has repeatedly stated its support for a two-state-solution with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital as the way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Source: Ahram online
