JERUSALEM, A diplomatic delegation from the European Union today visited Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem where they heard a briefing about it from the Director General of the Islamic Waqf (Endowments) and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs, Azzam Khatib.

The delegation, which included 35 representatives and consuls from the European Union, was received by Khatib and the Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Omar Kiswani, along with members of the Waqf Department.

Khatib welcomed members of the delegation, stressing the importance of their visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque before accompanying them on a tour during which he briefed them on the Mosque within the 144-dunum walled holy compound that includes the Dome of the Rock and the building of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and explained to them the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims. He also briefed them on the Israeli occupation’s attempt to change the status quo in it through the escalating incursions by extremist Jews of the Muslim holy place.

Khatib also briefed the European diplomats on all the reconstruction projects at the Mosque, which were stopped by the Israeli government before completing them, considered as a blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Mosque.

He reviewed the most prominent Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings, and the difficult conditions it is facing in flagrant violation of its religious, historical and legal status.

Khatib urged support for the efforts of the custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque, King Abdullah II, in preserving the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, foremost of which is Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to pressure the occupation government to stop all violations against the Mosque and respect the historical status quo of the Mosque within all its 144-dunum area, underground and above-ground, as an Islamic mosque for Muslims alone, and not to interfere in the authority of the Islamic Waqf Department as the party in charge of the holy place.

Source: palestine News & Info Agency