RAMALLAH – The Palestinian Authority Thursday slammed the Israeli measures in Al-Ibrahimi mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron. Mahmoud Al-Habbash, the Palestinian Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said that Israel prevented the Azan (calling for prayers) in the Ibrahimi Mosque 52 times since last December “under the pretext that it disturbs the residents of nearby Jewish settlements and make too much noises.” Al-Habbash added that the Israeli soldiers at the entrance of the mosque “oblige the Palestinian worshipers to undergo strict security check before entering the mosque for prayers.” In the same time, the minister said, the “Israeli soldiers allow the Jewish settlers to enter the mosque freely under lame excuses.” He said that the “settlers desecrate this holy mosque and often embarrassed and ridicule Muslims while praying.” Al-Ibrahimi Mosque is the second holiest Islamic site in Palestinian territories after Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The mosque was divided into Muslim and Jewish sections by an Israeli government special committee called “Shamgar committee” after the 1994 massacre that took place in the mosque when a Jewish occupier opened fire on Muslim worshippers killing and injuring 26 at Fajr (dawn) prayer. The Palestinian minister slammed the Israeli policy saying it “is interference in Palestinians' internal affairs an attempt to prevent freedom of religion which is prescribed also in Israel's Basic Law.” He said the “(Israeli) occupation has not the right to interfere in the mosques and other holy shrines' affaires.” Al-Habbash said that the policy against the mosque “is part of ongoing Israeli aggression against mosques in West Bank and Arab cities inside Israel.” He called on Arab Ministers of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs “to shoulder their responsibility in protecting the identity and character of the holy shrines in Palestinian territories which are in jeopardy.' “The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Al-Ibrahimi mosque and other shrines need the Arab and Muslim support”, the minister said. Local sources said that the Palestinians living near a Jewish event hall near the mosque have been forced to listen to hours of Orthodox Jews music being played every day in the center. The sources said that the Gutnick Center places large loudspeakers on the building, using them to play music at a very loud volume. According to the sources, the nuisance has made their lives a living hell, adding that some neighbors have even complained of hearing problems.
