Scholars call for action to revamp eastern side of Al Aqsa

AMMAN — Al Aqsa Mosque is a pure Islamic site that cannot be shared and divided, and any attempts to impose a status quo there are rejected and will never even be negotiated, scholars and religious leaders said Monday.

They made the assertions in the speeches they delivered during a seminar on Al Aqsa Mosque organised at Haya Cultural Centre.

Jerusalem Forum Director Ishaq Farhan described the Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem's holy sites as the guarantee of the Muslim nation's sovereignty over Al Aqsa Mosque.

Farhan added that worshippers cannot perform their prayers at the mosque's 43-donumn eastern part, where a huge amount of debris have accumulated, requiring special vehicles and equipment to be removed.

"As it is always empty of worshippers," Farhan said the mosque's eastern side is an "easy target of Zionist groups' frequent attacks". 

Ekrima Sabri, imam of Al Aqsa Mosque, said the eastern side used to be the main gate to Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

"The Israeli occupation forces have been preventing the awqaf administration in Jerusalem from removing the accumulated trash in the eastern part…This is hindering the restoration work at Al Aqsa Mosque," Sabri added.

Jerusalem Awqaf Department Director Azzam Khatib Tamimi said the Jordanian custodianship has preserved the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem, describing His Majesty King Abdullah's support and unaltered position on the Old City as the guarantee against Israeli meddling. 

Echoing Sabri's and Farhan's remarks, Tamimi called for immediate efforts to save Al Aqsa Mosque's eastern side.