Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Illegal Israeli Jewish Settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque,
Attack Dair Rafat Monastery in occupied Jerusalem

April 2, 2014

70 illegal Israeli Jewish settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque	Illegal Israeli Jewish settlers attack Dair Rafat monastery of the Latin Patriarchate in occupied Jerusalem

70 illegal Israeli Jewish settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque

[ 02/04/2014 - 11:47 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

70 illegal Israeli Jewish settlers have stormed on Wednesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque amid heavy police protection, where they listened to explanations about the alleged Temple.

Mahmoud Abul Atta, a spokesman for the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH), confirmed that Israeli soldiers tightened security measures on the Mosque’s gates and confiscated a number of identity cards, while Palestinian students of Islamic schools in al-Aqsa Mosque protested Israeli security measures and frequent break-ins.

In another context, Abul Atta stated that the alleged Temple organizations have submitted a formal request to hold a ceremony inside al-Aqsa Mosque with the participation of 100 settlers to mark the Hebrew Passover on the 14th of April.

He said that according to Hebrew media sources the Israeli police intend to discuss the request during the coming few days. The Israeli extremist organizations' request came as part of the Israeli escalation in targeting the holy site, he added.

The request includes offering sacrifices, participation of 100 settlers, and providing security protection, Abul Atta underlined.

The spokesman warned of the seriousness of Israeli threats against al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for intensifying Palestinian presence inside it.

AFEH condemns attack on monastery by illegal Israeli Jewish settlers

[ 02/04/2014 - 09:05 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) strongly denounced the "heinous crime" committed by the so-called Price Tag extremist Jewish groups on Tuesday targeting a monastery in occupied Jerusalem.

The Foundation held Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for "this cowardly attack" that came in light of the Israeli religious persecution and racial discrimination policy.

The Foundation's statement said that Christian and Islamic holy sites in occupied West Bank and Jerusalem became noticeably targeted by Jewish extremist groups as part of the Israeli systematic policy that aims to erase the Arab-Palestinian existence.

Extremist Jews carried out a price tag attack on Dair Rafat monastery of the Latin Patriarchate in occupied Jerusalem. The monastery’s outer walls were sprayed with hate graffiti and slogans against Virgin Mary and the USA. The assailants also slashed the tires of four nearby Palestinian cars.

Meanwhile, the Islamic-Christian Commission for the support of Jerusalem and the holy sites has issued Tuesday its monthly report on Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.

The monthly report documented the arrest of 26 Jerusalemites during March, while nine break-ins were carried out into al-Aqsa Mosque during the same period.

Four Jerusalemites were deported from al-Aqsa Mosque during March, while Palestinian worshipers under the age of fifty were prevented from having access to the Mosque, the report added.

According to the monthly report, Israeli forces have attacked eight Palestinians in al-Aqsa Mosque including four journalists.

The Jerusalemite commission also documented the demolition of two sheds, a store, a carwash, and two homes under the pretext of being built without a permit.

The Israeli government has approved during March the construction of 128 settlement units in favor of Israeli army recruits, and 168 settlement houses in East Jerusalem, in addition to 387 housing units in Ramat Shlomo settlement built on Shufat town north of occupied Jerusalem.