RAMALLAH, May 19, 2012 (WAFA) – Muslim leaders have warned against attempts by Jewish fanatics to desecrate al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday as thousands are expected to participate in marches celebrating Israel’s occupation of the east part of the city 45 years ago.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during its 1967 war against its Arab neighbors and it later annexed it despite international opposition and condemnation naming both sections of Jerusalem as its capital. No country has so far recognized Israel’s rule over or annexation of occupied East Jerusalem.

Sheikh Yousef Ideis, head of the Muslim Sharia courts in the Palestinian Territory, called Saturday on Palestinians to be alert for possible infiltration of fanatic Jews into al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City, Islam’s third holiest site and which houses al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

He called on people to be present inside the Muslim compound to protect it in case the fanatics decide to break into it.

Jews believe al-Haram al-Sharif is the location of their temples, destroyed more than 2000 years ago, and want to rebuild their third temple on the ruins of the Muslim structures, which could trigger serious violent reaction.

Tens of thousands of fanatic Jews are planning to march through the Old City on Sunday to the Western Wall and Israeli police has already called on Palestinians who have shops in the path of the march or homes to keep their shops closed and stay inside their homes to avoid contact with the fanatics, who previously vandalized Palestinian property and attacked individuals in their way.

Police has also decided to close off the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, which falls right outside the Old City wall and the closest to the Western Wall, to avoid outbreak of violence during the provocative Israeli march.

Israel celebrates its occupation of the city based on the Jewish calendar while the actual date of its occupation was June 5, according to the Gregorian calendar.

M.S.