Al-Musalla Al-Marwani features Islamic and Byzantine architecture and covers a total area of 2775 square kilometers

By Atef Daghlas, IOL Correspondent

NABLUS , July 2 (IslamOnline.net) – Palestinians reacted with anger to Israeli army’s attempts to stop restoration works inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.

Israeli soldiers attempted to storm Al-Musalla (the prayer hall) Al-Marwani on Tuesday, June 29, and end by force the restoration work there.

But they were confronted by scholars and officials of the Palestinian Islamic Waqfs Department.

The Palestinian officials repudiated Israeli army claims that they did not get a prior permission for the restoration.

Mohamed Hussein, the director of Aqsa mosque, said the work is not meant to stem the flow of water into the Islamic site during the rainfall season.

He said the officials and workers for the project stood their ground against the Israeli occupation forces and resumed work normally, calling the attempt "continuous and brazen interference".

"The occupation forces had earlier poked their nose into other administrative and architecture-relate affairs of the mosque. They even interfere in the entry of worshippers into the mosque."

On April 12, at least 70 Palestinians were injured when Israeli forces stormed into Al-Aqsa mosque compound and clashed with worshippers.

"Entitled"

Ikrema Sabri, the mufti of Al-Quds and Palestine , dismissed claims that an authorization was required for the restoration of the prayer hall.

"The Islamic Waqfs Department is empowered to have the restoration and renovation works done and has never asked for permission from occupation authorities or municipal officials to do this," he said.

Sabri stressed that the act of the occupation forces is rather part of a policy of provocations and interference in the affairs of Aqsa mosque.

Adnan Al-Husseini, the director of the Palestinian Islamic Waqfs Department, agreed.

"The restoration operations we carry out are vital for limiting the flow of water into the prayer hall".

He charged that Israeli forces have attempted to "use the policy of force to terrorize employees of the Islamic Waqfs Department in order to stop their works."

Plots

Al-Aqsa Society of the Reconstruction of Islamic Shrines warned in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net, against fresh attempts targeting Aqsa mosque in general and Al-Musalla Al-Marwani in particular.

"We value what the scholars, officials and employees have done but fear other Israeli schemes  against Al-Aqsa mosque, particularly Al-Musalla Al-Marwani," read the statement.

The society referred to earlier reports that a group of Israeli forces, including senior officers, broke into the mosque and the prayer hall where they stayed for two hours.

Al-Osboa newspaper had reported that the occupation forces moved a monitoring camera from outside the wall of the mosque to inside the site near Al-Musalla Al-Marwani.

"The question now is: why is it moved adjacent to the Al-Musalla Al-Marwani?" the statement asked.

"The Israeli establishment is creating a media fuss about the southern and eastern walls of Al-Aqsa mosque next to Al-Musalla Al-Marwani. Some reports speak about recommendations recently submitted to Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon to close down the prayer hall and denied Muslim worshippers access."

Long History

Al Musalla Al Marwani is situated at the south east of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A wide structure with Islamic and Byzantine architecture, Al-Musalla Al-Marwani  comprises 16 rooms, with a total area of 2775 square kilometers.

The Crusaders had called it "Solomon's Staples" and dedicated it for their horses.

It had been closed due to the damage of its walls, but was re-inaugurated in 1996 following some restoration work initiated by Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement inside what is now Israel , who is currently detained by Israeli authorities.

Israel claims Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, was built on the so-called Temple Mount , an allegation refuted by scores of historians.

An Israeli extremist group, the Temple Mount Faithful, has for long been pressing successive Israeli governments to allow a replica of the said temple.

Archeologists said the ongoing Israeli excavations have already weakened Al-Aqsa Mosque’s foundations.

A part of the road leading to one of the mosque’s main gates had recently collapsed  because of the incessant Israeli excavations.