JERUSALEM: Hundreds of Israeli colonists today broke into the compound of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem under heavy protection from the Israeli police, to secure the provocative flag march, ,’ which the colonial associations intend to organize today.

Some 800 colonists, divided into groups, raided the holy Islamic Mosque from al-Maghariba gate and took provocative tours in its compounds.

The sources said that one of the colonists’ rabbis stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque wearing tefillin, accompanied by former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin.

Colonists also performed Talmudic rituals in the vicinity of Al-Qattanin Market and Bab Al-Qattanin, one of the main gates leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The occupation authorities sent in more than 3,000 policemen to occupied Jerusalem, and set up military checkpoints on the main roads, announcing that they would close major routes and push more of their police forces into the city on the eve of the so-called ‘flag march,’ which will pass through the neighborhoods of Old Jerus
alem and land in al-Buraq Wall Square.

In the meantime, the heavily-armed soldiers beefed-up their military deployments and tightened their restrictions at the gates leading to the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ministers and members of Knesset from the government coalition are also expected to participate in the provocative march.

The alleged “Temple” organizations and colonial groups called for the largest storming of Al-Aqsa on Wednesday morning.

The Islamic Christian Commission for Supporting Jerusalem and the Holy Sanctities warned of the danger of the Israeli escalation against Al-Aqsa Mosque on the eve of commemoration of the occupation of the city of Jerusalem.

It called on Palestinian Muslims for mobilizing and traveling to Al-Aqsa Mosque to confront any attempt by the colonists to storm it and hold biblical rituals inside the mosque.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA