Israeli police raid Al Aqsa compound

(PALOS HILLS, IL L2/28/10) – The American Muslims for Palestine, a national grassroots education organization, denounces in the harshest possible terms the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound by members of the Israeli military on Sunday.

The Al Aqsa Mosque Compound, also known as Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary, houses Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.  More than 200 Israeli forces and police stormed the compound early Sunday, injuring at least 20 Palestinians who were among those protecting Al Aqsa from Jewish threats of takeover during the Jewish holiday of Purim, according to published reports. Soldiers used rubber-coated bullets and tear gas against the Palestinians. A 40-year-old woman, Fatima Al-Barsi, suffered a broken leg when Israeli soldiers attacked her as she was trying to enter the mosque, according to Maan News Agency.

Israel has had the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem nearly locked down since Friday, one day before the beginning of the Jewish Purim holiday.  Israeli soldiers denied access tqsao Al Aqsa to all but about 50 Palestinians.

Earlier Sunday, Israeli police escorted four right-wing Israelis into the mosque compound, according to Maan. Israel’s actions are designed to provoke violence and unrest among the Palestinian population. The actions are reminiscent of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to Al Aqsa in 2000. That provocation sparked the beginning of the second intifada. Sunday’s storming of the Al Aqsa compound is another example that Israel does not want peace.

AMP condemns the actions by Israel and calls upon U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to sanction Israel by withholding U.S. foreign aid to that country, which amounts to more than $7 million per day. AMP also calls upon worldwide faith leaders to condemn Israel for actions that prevent Palestinians from worshipping in Al Aqsa mosque.

TAKE ACTION

Call President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton and demand they hold Israel accountable by tying U.S. foreign aid to progress in the areas of human rights and ensuring Palestinian access to al=Aqsa mosque.

Call upon the World Council of Religious Leaders and ask them to pressure Israel to cease actions designed to provoke violence.

TALKING POINTS

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the freedom to practice religion
• Preventing Palestinians access to Al Aqsa deprives them of the basic right to worship
• Al Aqsa is sacred for more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe
• Storming the Al Aqsa compound is an inflammatory move, aimed at sparking violence
• The second intifada erupted in reaction to the controversial visit to the Al Aqsa compound made by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
• These actions will endanger the peace and stability in the region as well as globally.

CONTACT

President Barack Obama: White House comment line – 202.456.1111, press 1 when prompted; White House email – www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – 202.647.5291; email – http://contact-us.state.gov and  click on “email a question.”
World Council of Religious Leaders: Headquarters in New York – 212.967.2891; or email chairman His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, acting supreme patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it