Al Aqsa yards to be converted into a park by Israelis

The Jerusalem municipality has issued a decision to convert Al-Aqsa mosque’s yards into public parks and gardens that would be open to the general public, according to Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement in occupied lands. On Tuesday, the Palestine News Network reported on a press release issued by Al-Khatib stating that this was part of an effort by the Israeli authorities to erase the history of Palestinians in Jerusalem and end Muslim control of their own holy sites. Al-Khatib commented, “The Israeli occupation allowed — for the first time in Ramadan — the admission of settlers into the yards of al-Aqsa mosque, without taking into consideration the feelings of Muslims. At the same time, they allowed for the Jerusalem municipality’s decision to convert the mosque’s yards into public parks and gardens, where everyone is allowed to enter.”