Ramallah: A growing number of Jewish couples have been tying the knot at Al Haram Al Sharif in occupied East Jerusalem, despite rules forbidding Jewish rituals and prayers at the Muslim holy site.
Israeli media have reported that since the beginning of September, 20 Jewish couples have wed inside the holy shrine. Palestinians believe far-right Israeli organisations are encouraging Jewish wedding ceremonies there.
Shaikh Najah Bakeerat, the head of the holy compound and educational institutions therein, said the disturbing phenomenon reflects Israel’s determination to establish a Jewish presence at the shrine.
Although wedding ceremonies of native Palestinians are routinely conducted at Al Haram Al Sharif, Shaikh Bakeerat wants to see more Muslim marriages at the holy site in order to counter the growing number of Jewish weddings, which, he said, were mainly held in secret.
He told Gulf News Israeli occupation forces turn a blind eye to the infringement, although they are fully aware of international status quo agreements banning Jewish rituals and prayers at Al Haram Al Sharif.
He said ongoing attempts by the occupation forces to oust him from his position were aimed at facilitating Jewish marriages and other rituals there, by removing those who may try to uphold the Muslims’ exclusive rights to the property.
The status quo agreements allow Jews to visit the holy shrine, but strictly forbid them from praying there or conducting Talmudic rituals.
Since Israel captured and annexed the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967, occupation forces have been working round-the-clock to turn occupied Jerusalem into their “eternal and undivided” capital. The Palestinians seek to make occupied East Jerusalem the capital of their future independent state. Observers believe the conflict over the future of the holy city led to the collapse of diplomatic talks between the Israelis and Palestinians in April 2014.
Al Haram Al Sharif houses Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest place in Islam, and the Dome of the Rock, from which Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) ascended to heaven.
