Ramallah: The Israeli regime has permited a far-right Jewish group to hold Bar Mitzvah celebrations at Al Haram Al Sharif, the third most holiest sites in Islam.
The Jewish student Temple Mount Movement have been campaigning to hold the religious celebration at the Muslim shrine under the campaign title “Don’t settle for the wall” — in reference to the Al Buraq Wall known to Jews as the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall, where Jews are permitted to pray.
Under a status quo agreement, Jews may visit Al Haram Al Sharif, but may not perform religious rituals there.
Far right Jewish groups have been pushing to take over the holy Muslim site and are allowed to raid the premises daily — under full protection of the Israeli police.
Officially, the Israeli government says it is against the raids, but observers say Jewish colonists get the green light from Tel Aviv to continue such provoations.
Israel annexed and occupied the West Bank and Jerusalem in 1967 when Arab countries lost the six-day war — in a move not recognised by the international community.
Israel wants Jerusalem to be its capital and observers say the regime has a systematic plan in place to Judaise the holy city and erase its Muslim and Palestinian character.
The Bar Mitzvah is a tradition in the Jewish religion to celebrate a boy’s transition into manhood.
Al Haram Al Sharif, Islam’s third holiest shrine, was built on top of the ancient remnants of the Temple Mount, a site sacred in Judaism which was destroyed in the 4th century by the Romans, during their rule.
It houses both Al Aqsa Mosque, which was originally commissioned to be built under Omar, the second Caliph in Islam in the 7th century, and the Dome of the Rock which houses the rock from which Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) ascended to heaven, according to Islamic teachings.
According to Muslim belief, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) tied his winged animal (Al Buraq) to a wall, from which it got its name.
