The Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations protested Israel's demolition of a historic road in Al-Quds city and excavation under the Al-Aqsa Mosque in a letter to the current Security Council president, a copy of which was obtained Wednesday by The Saudi Press Agency. Ambassador Riyadh Mansour wrote to Slovakian Ambassador Peter Burian that the historic road connects Bab al-Maghariba to the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and is part of the area that the Israelis are demolishing. The work exposes the Holy compound, making it more vulnerable yet to future acts of aggression, Mansour said, adding that the excavation below the mosque could undermine its foundation and cause the structure to collapse. Additionally, Israeli occupying authorities have banned Palestinians below the age of 45 from entering the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in grave contravention of their basic right to access their holy sites and in clear violation of Israel's obligations to ensure and protect that right, wrote Mansour. Of course the members will pay attention to the content of the letter the council is preparing for an open debate on the Middle East, Burian told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the Al-Aqsa issue most likely would be discussed by the Security Council next Tuesday.
