The Aqsa Mosque Rehabilitation Committee on Thursday morning resumed its maintenance works at the Aqsa Mosque compound, days after repairs were interrupted by the Israeli police in Occupied Jerusalem.

According to local sources, the Rehabilitation Committee embarked on renovating decorations, walls and pillars inside the Marwani and the Dome of the Rock prayer buildings at the Aqsa Mosque compound.

Last Sunday, the Israeli police prevented the Islamic Awqaf authority at the Aqsa Mosque from finishing restoration and maintenance works at the Aqsa Mosque, claiming that such works needed Israeli permits.

Jordan, at the time, condemned such Israeli interference in the affairs of the Islamic holy site in Jerusalem.

Spokesman for its foreign ministry Dhaifallah al-Fayez described the police’s practice as an infringement on the jurisdiction of the Jordan-run Administration of the Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Mosque Affairs.

Fayez reiterated that the Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Mosque Affairs Administration has exclusive jurisdiction over the management and upkeep of the Aqsa Mosque.

He called on the Israeli authorities to abide by their obligations under international law as the occupying power in east Jerusalem and desist from such reckless and irresponsible practices.

He also stressed the need for Israel to respect the legal and historical status quo in the holy city and to respect the authority of the Awqaf Administration.

The spokesman pointed out that the Jordanian foreign ministry sent a protest note through diplomatic channels demanding Israel to necessarily refrain from such violations and provocations and to respect the mandate of Jordan’s Islamic Awqaf Administration in Jerusalem.

 

Source: The Palestinian Information Center