RAMALLAH: The leader of Islamic Movement inside Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, urged the Arab world during the movement’s annual fundraising event for Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Arab town of Umm Al-Fahm to “fight Israeli occupation of Jerusalem.”
Salah vowed in the event, which is under the banner “Al-Aqsa is in danger”, that the movement would continue sponsoring the event annually, until it is able to hold it in Jerusalem.
“The enemy must be asking for how long do we intent to hold the Al-Aqsa festival. I say, till the occupation is lifted from Jerusalem and the mosque, then we will have the festival in the mosque itself under a banner of victory.”
He addressed the Israeli officials saying, “I say to the Israeli occupation, and those representing it, to (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert, (President Shimon) Peres and (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak, after 40 years that you are occupying the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and digging all sorts of ditches and building synagogues under the mosque, and building an Israeli museum under the mosque, I say to you that you occupation will be removed from above Jerusalem and from the mosque.”
He also told the crowd that the Israeli occupation has defiled the mosque and that Israelis drank alcohol in it and engaged in sexual acts on its grounds.
“We say to you on behalf of all the people here, that your plan, which we exposed, despite your dream to destroy the mosque, your occupation will not last for long.”
Salah was indicted several times by Israeli courts and imprisoned for inciting crowds. Salah also had a message for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and dismissed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh ahead of the upcoming month of Ramadan.
“What we are asking from you both for this holiday, a gift for every Muslim and every free man, is to renew the dialogue and reconcile.”
For his part, Umm Al-Fahm Mayor, Hisham Abdulrahman called on the leaders of Arab nations to dedicate themselves to working for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and ending the occupation of Arab countries.
“Our hands are outstretched in peace, but at the same time we say: Stop the occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine,” he said.
A telegram sent by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa was also read to the crowd. “We are saddened by what is happening in Al-Aqsa and by what the Israeli occupation is doing in Jerusalem.
