MAKKAH: The mufti of Jerusalem has emphasized the need to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, which he says is the main cause of tension in the Middle East region. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, who is also the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, was speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the recently-concluded International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) conference in Sharjah.

“A mere condemnation is not enough to stop ongoing Israeli efforts to obliterate the Muslim characteristics of Jerusalem. The situation requires strong diplomatic moves and economic measures,” Sabri said.

Sabri, who is also chairman of the Higher Islamic Council and an IIFA member, said: “As Jerusalem is regarded by Muslims all over the world as the third holiest place on Earth after Makkah and Madinah, its protection is a collective responsibility on the entire Ummah.”

Answering a question on bitter rifts between Palestinian political factions, Sabri said: “We have been continuously calling on them to bury differences and close their ranks for the common good. But the politicians never listen. Our efforts are ignored even by the media.”

The mufti lamented that their efforts were misunderstood as one-sided. “We have a neutral stand on the issue and have remained above narrow interests because we want unity of all Palestinians. Unfortunately, none of the bickering parties listened to our words and the inevitable catastrophe occurred. Now, after matters deteriorated they are all trying for dialogue,” he said.

When asked if he agreed with the general feeling that religious scholars had failed in mobilizing a jihad for the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the sheikh conceded that there were failures in this regard. “It is not, however, fair to generalize and say that all religious scholars ignored awakening the Muslim conscience to make jihad for protecting the third holiest mosque. Every year we hold meetings and issue joint statements as to what should be done. A scholar who serves as a government employee has certain limitations; he is bound to obey the orders of his government. But there are independent scholars who can speak out freely. Many of them are either put in prison or their views are suppressed by the media,” Sabri said.

He added that the Israelis use various strategies to restrict the freedom of worship in Jerusalem. “They use various ploys to prevent even those residing adjacent to Al-Aqsa from praying in the mosque. They set the age of those who can enter the mosque particularly on Fridays at 50 and above. Another oppressive strategy to minimize the number of worshippers is preventing the Muslims of Gaza from traveling to Jerusalem,” the sheikh said.

“We exert lot of efforts to enable us to hold regular congregational prayers five times at Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock mosques,” he added.

Sabri said clashes erupt in the mosque complex when Israeli troops stop worshippers from neighboring villages going in groups to join Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa.

About the frequent incidents of Israeli soldiers killing Palestinian children, the sheikh said deaths of children call for the highest degree of patience. “A child goes to school in the morning and Israeli soldiers shoot him down when he throws stones at tanks in nearby streets. Parents find the bullet-riddled bodies of their children with stones in their hands and textbooks in their backpacks,” he said.

He added that Israeli soldiers shoot with the least provocation. “They walk in the streets in groups of four, each one facing one of the four directions, with their fingers on the triggers of a machine gun.”

He also said it was unjust to keep 1.5 million people in Gaza in a virtual prison by keeping crossing points closed.