Palestina. Report: Abbas' wife denied entry to Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa
Reageer (0)24-3-2010
Bethlehem – The wife of President Mahmoud Abbas was denied access to Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli authorities on Monday, according to media reports.
Mrs Abbas was scheduled to escort the mother of the Chechen Republic's president to the Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayer, the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The visit was previously approved by Israeli authorities, but permission was later revoked, and the Chechen guest was allowed entry into Al-Aqsa alone, the daily added.
Israeli officials told the newspaper that the decision was justified, reflecting an unwavering Israeli policy that denies the Palestinian Authority any official jurisdiction over the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel restricts Palestinian access to the third holiest site in Islam, imposing checkpoints, closures and age restrictions on Jerusalem residents and other Palestinians. On Wednesday, three Israeli members of the Israel's parliament began a tour of the gates around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to reports.
Additionally, Israeli police issued prohibitions to two Galilee men from entering Jerusalem's Old City, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for a period of two weeks, the Al-Asqa Foundation reported Wednesday.
The two, Mahmoud Abdul Kareem Hajajra from Al-Hajajra village and Bilal Muhammad Zeidanf from Kufr Manda, were questioned by border police during a visit to Islam's third holiest site on Tuesday and detained for five hours over tourist photos they had taken, the foundation said.
Israeli border and national police representatives were unavailable for comment by phone Wednesday, as the foundation condemned their actions as a violation of their freedom to worship at the site.
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