By Ali Abo Rezeg and Burcu Arik
ISTANBUL (AA) – The recent relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has emboldened Israel to step up settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Yousef Adeis.
Adeis made the assertion during an interview with Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of Friday’s extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was convened to address recent developments in Palestine.
“With this step [relocation of the embassy], U.S. President Donald Trump has given Israel a green light to continue its assaults in Jerusalem, the frequency of which have recently increased dramatically,” Adeis said.
“This has been evidenced by the renewed incursions by Israeli settlers into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following the embassy’s relocation on Monday,” he added.
According to Adeis, the embassy move’s negative effects would soon be apparent on Jerusalem’s holy places — especially Al-Aqsa – “since the Israeli occupation has long-term plans to destroy the mosque”.
As for reports that Israel was “facilitating” Palestinian worshippers who sought to enter Al-Aqsa during the month of Ramadan, Adeis described such reports as “a deception”.
“Israel frequently claims it is ‘facilitating’ Palestinians [seeking to enter Al-Aqsa] from Jerusalem and the West Bank during Ramadan,” he said.
“But this is just an attempt to mislead public opinion.”
Until now, Adeis said, Palestinians continue to face tight security measures “that violate international laws guaranteeing freedom of worship”.
– OIC summit
In terms of what he expects from Friday’s OIC meeting, Adeis said: “I’m confident that this summit will send a message to the world that Jerusalem is as important to Arabs and Muslims as it is to Palestinians.”
“We’re sure that the Muslim and Arab nations won’t remain silent on this issue,” he added.
Praising Turkey’s response to the U.S. embassy move, Adeis said: “We as Palestinians are gratified by Ankara’s position regarding Jerusalem. Turkey is doing a great job supporting the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem.”
In the wake of the U.S. embassy move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the decision, saying Turkey would never accept it.
Shortly afterward, he called for an extraordinary OIC summit in Istanbul.
Relocation of the U.S. embassy was accompanied by fresh Israeli violence against unarmed Palestinians.
On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred by Israeli troops — and thousands more injured — near the Gaza-Israel security fence.
Thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the fence to protest the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment — which Palestinians refer to as the “Catastrophe ” — and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which occurred the same day.
