SANAA, Yemen, December 5, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Al-Quds Foundations' development projects that target primarily the preservation of the identity of the holy city of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) and helping its residents stand to Israeli attempts to drive them out and conceal its Islamic nature are a sort of civilian Jihad, no less important than armed resistance to occupation, according the QF chairman of trustees Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.

"Educational, vocational, training and humanitarian projects implemented by the QF in the city aim at preserving Al-Quds' identity, history and Islamic sacred sites as well as consolidating its people," Qaradawi said during the fourth conference of QF board of trustees and the second meeting of networks working for Al-Quds that opened in the Yemeni capital Sunday.

"These projects are a civilian jihad that should go side by side with armed resistance," he added.

Qaradawi further called on Muslim countries to take the matter more seriously, urging Muslims to set up Waqfs (religious endowments) in every country to support development projects in the holy city.

"Rich Arabs and Muslims should contribute to development projects established by QF in the city, through establishing Waqfs for Al-Quds in every country," Qaradawi said.

The QF is an independent non-profit NGO established in Lebanon in January 2001 by Arab, Islamic and international personalities. It aims at rescuing the holy city and preserving its Arab and Islamic identity.

Beirut is the temporary headquarters of the foundation while Al-Quds City is the permanent one.

The Israelis aim at forcing the people of Al-Quds to loose their identity and evacuate them in order to dominate the holy city, the immanent scholar pointed out.

Lebanese MP Abdullah Hanna, a Christian, echoed Dr Qaradawi's words, saying that Israel has changed the landmarks of Al-Quds in order to make it a Jewish city and is replacing its original residents with Jewish immigrants.

"Resistance should continue in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and in every country occupied by foreigners," Dr Qaradawi stressed.

Sheikh Harith Al-Dari, chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq, stressed that the Palestinian and Iraqi cases are similar.

"Occupation in Baghdad and Jerusalem will end since fighters won't give up," he said.

"Today, Al-Quds is not the original city as the Jews have changed its landmarks. With tunnels being dug underneath it, the city has become suspended in the air," said Al-Quds Mufti Dr Ekrema Sabry.

"Another city exists under Al-Quds city," he said, adding that it comprises of Israeli government institutions and a technology park that displays movies for tourists to convince them that Al -Aqsa Mosque was built over Solomon's Shrine.

A total of 50 percent of Al-Quds children don't attend schools for lack of classrooms, he said. According to Israeli statistics, the city needs 380 classrooms, he noted.

The mufti further called on the free world to actively resolve the grave situation.