Days of Palestine – Jerusalem

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) banned Sunday a senior official of the Muslim Waqf (endowment) department from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City for six months, local sources said.

They added that Najeh Bkeirat, deputy director of the Islamic Waqf Department, which is in charge of the Muslim holy places and properties and based at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, was summoned to the police station this morning where he was informed of the ban order.

Bkeirat was banned several times in the past from entering Al-Aqsa compound due to his defense of the Muslim holy site against attempts by Jewish settler groups and fanatics to change the decades-old status quo at the Mosque as a Muslim-only worship area.