OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - As over 1.3 billion Muslims currently celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israel has requested a halt to the call to prayer in occupied Jerusalem.
The Sunday issue of the Israeli paper, Ma'ariv, reported that rightwing-extremist Israeli Minister of Environment Tsahi Henbegy ordered his office last week to deal with what he called "noise pollution emanating from mosques".
Henbegy was reacting to a complaint submitted by the Israeli deputy in chief of the Jerusalem municipality, Yegal Amdi. The complaint was allegedly based on claims by Jewish settlers in occupied Jerusalem that the
azan, or call for prayer, was disturbing their sleep.
The Israeli deputy in chief said that the microphones of the mosques were too high and noisy.
However, Fafo Allo, who is a member of the municipality council and the leftist Meretz party, said that it would be very dangerous to infuriate Palestinians during this time of the year because it would provoke further anti-Israeli sentiment in the region.
Allo said that Israelis must realize that Jerusalem is a city of mixed religions and that Islam, Christianity and Judaism must all be respected equally.
Israeli forces recently re-imposed tight blockades and restriction on Jerusalem, which are aimed at hindering the Palestinians from performing their prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month.
According to IslamOnline sources, Palestinians are finding it extremely difficult to carry out their basic rights of performing Islamic rituals due to Israeli oppression.
