RAMALLAH, 7 April 2005 — The Israeli police will close access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to all non-Muslims on Sunday to block an attempted demonstration by extreme rightists, a spokesman said. “We already prevented such a demonstration on March 30, but to ensure that this measure is effectively applied, we prohibit all visits on Sunday,” the spokesman told AFP yesterday. He clarified that this would not apply to the Muslim faithful.
A small group Revava (Myriad) called the demonstration to oppose Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to pull all Jewish settlers and troops out of the Gaza Strip this summer.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government downplayed a row with the United States yesterday over a plan to enlarge a major West Bank settlement which threatens to overshadow the upcoming summit between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President George W. Bush.
In an unusually sharp slapdown for Washington’s chief Middle East ally, Bush warned Israel Tuesday there could be “no expansion” of settlements in Palestinian territories under the US-backed Middle East peace road map. “Our position is very clear, that the road map is important, and the road map calls for no expansion of the settlements,” Bush said ahead of the summit at his Texas ranch scheduled for Monday.
The housing project has infuriated the Palestinians, who warn it could undermine the viability of their promised future state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is himself due to meet Bush in the coming weeks, welcomed the president’s comments.
“President Abu Mazen (Abbas) welcomes the declarations by President Bush in which he confirmed the United States commitment to the road map and appealed to Israel to totally halt its settlement activity in the West Bank,” a Palestinian Authority statement said.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he hoped Bush would also press Israel to end construction of its controversial wall in the West Bank.
— With input from agencies
