UK`s Middle East minister blocked from visiting Al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli forces
RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Lord Ahamd, the UK`s ministry of foreign affairs middle east deputy was blocked from visiting Al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli forces.
As “BBC” reported Israel`s police kept Lord Ahmad waiting at Al-Aqsa court yard for thirty minutes when they let him entered.
Lord Ahmad who is a practicing Muslim, was visiting the occupied east of the city during an official trip to the region.
The holy site Islamic administrating authorities called it “unacceptable”.
The said: “Whether he came as a minister or as a Muslim he shouldn’t have been blocked.”
Speaking to the BBC afterwards, Lord Ahmad played down the wait.
He described it as “security checks, whatever they needed to do”.
Israel’s Border Police have been approached for comment.
The hilltop site is the third holiest in Islam and the most sacred place in Judaism.
To Muslims it is known as Haram al-Sharif, the site of Muhammad’s ascent to Heaven, and the entire compound is considered al-Aqsa Mosque.
The same area is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of two Biblical temples.
Non-Muslims are allowed to go to the compound from a designated gate at specific times but not to pray, though Palestinians see visits by Jews as attempts to change the delicate status quo.
Lord Ahmad was asked to wait along with a small delegation of UK officials beside a police checkpoint at a gate to the compound.
The UK officials told Israeli border police that he was a British government minister and that the visit had been coordinated with Islamic endowment that runs the site, the Waqf.
However, this was seemingly not accepted for some time, with the discussion including the officials trying to clarify his identity by showing the Israeli forces
The UK government, like the rest of the international community, does not recognise Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, so official visits are not co-ordinated through the Israeli authorities.
The Waqf told the BBC it had taken the visitors’ names and permit details on Wednesday night and given them to the Israeli police who check visitors at the gates.