OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, June 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net
& News Agencies) – Israel is planning to knock down a
20-year-old mosque in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), as part of
its steady demolition policy in the holy city.
An Israeli spokesman claimed Tuesday,
May 31, that Badr mosque would be razed because it was built without a
permit, reported Reuters.
He said the building is not
recognized by the Israeli authorities as a mosque, adding that a date
for the demolition was not yet set.
"We are not going to demolish
any mosque…We are going to demolish a structure that is not
completed."
The Badr mosque, which falls under
the control of the Waqfs department, the official caretaker of Muslim
sites in the holy city, is currently under reparation. It was built in
1986.
Religious Oppression
The Israeli decision drew fire from
Palestinian religious bodies and officials.
"We consider decisions like this
as consecration of a policy of religious oppression and a violation of
the sanctity of mosques and holy sites," said Al-Aqsa Society of
the Reconstruction of Holy Shrines.
Adnan Al-Husseini, the director of
the Waqfs Department, described the planned demolition of the mosque
is a political issue.
"This is a mosque built between
houses. It is not in the desert or in the middle of the street."
Israel captured Al-Quds in 1967 and
later annexed in a move not internationally recognized drew
condemnation and outrage from many Muslim groups.
Palestinians maintain that the holy
city will be the capital of their future state.
Demolition Policy
Palestinian workers at the mosque
site said they were restoring the older mosque -- putting in stone
walls, removing rubbish and reinforcing the ceiling, which had leaked
in winter.
Israel, however, claims that the
building is fresh illegal construction, not yet finished.
"The municipality's policy is to
exterminate illegal construction all over Jerusalem, which hurts law
and order, puts a heavy burden on taxpayers and damages the quality of
life for all the people of Jerusalem," the city said in a
statement.
The municipality said it had
demolished 22 buildings in East Jerusalem in 2005 and that the
demolition decision could be appealed.
Palestinians and rights groups say
building permits are nearly impossible for Arabs to obtain, and many
build without them.
The Israeli human rights group
B'tselem says Israeli housing demolitions have increased in East
Jerusalem since the start in 2000 of the Palestinian Intifada, citing
anecdotal evidence and reports from field workers.
In September 2000, Al-Aqsa Intifada
erupted in the wake of the provocative visit of then Israeli
opposition leader Sharon to Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest
site.
In October, 2004, a UN report accused
Israel of severe human rights violations against Palestinians,
including "wanton" destruction of infrastructure.
