Egypt's Al-Azhar slams Israeli violations in Jerusalem

By Viola Fehmi</p> <p>CAIRO (AA) – Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Islamic world, condemned a series of violations by Israel, including detention of Palestinians and raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.</p> <p>In a statement on Friday, Al-Azhar said it supports Palestinians in Jerusalem against the arbitrary practices of Israel — such as the closure of Al-Aqsa doors — adding that these violations cannot be accepted. </p> <p>The statement also called for urgent action — including political and legal steps — against Israel's violations and support for the Palestinian people to establish an independent state. </p> <p>Tension has mounted in Jerusalem since last week when Israeli police shut the Al-Aqsa mosque compound’s Al-Rahma Gate, preventing Palestinian worshippers from entering the site and sparking angry demonstrations. </p> <p>For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the &quot;Temple Mount,&quot; claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. </p> <p>Israel occupied East Jerusalem, in which the Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community. </p> <p>In late 2000, a visit to Al-Aqsa by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon sparked what later became known as the &quot;Second Intifada,&quot; a five-year-long popular uprising in which thousands of Palestinians were killed.</p> <p>