JERUSALEM, December 22, 2014 (WAFA) -  Tens of Palestinians demonstrated on Monday within Al-Aqsa Mosque yards near al-Magharbeh gate against calls by Jewish settlers’ to break into the holy site, reported WAFA correspondent. 

Copies of the Islamic holy book – Al Quran – were held high by worshipers, and many protestors chanted religious and national slogans to condemn Israeli policies which provide protection for settlers who take part in such provocative tours.

The Israeli police surrounded the demonstrating worshipers and threatened to arrest some of them. The Israeli police are continuously held responsible for the mounting tensions in the old City for allowing settlers to break into al-Aqsa and provoke worshipers without putting an end to it.  

Many extremist groups participated by calling on supporters to break into Al-Aqsa despite many international and Palestinian calls to avoid religious provocation, which could lead to further violence.

The so-called Temple Mount Faithful, Students for the Temple, Women for the Temple, Haliba and the temple institute extreme religious groups all called on Israeli settlers to participate in the festival of Lights, Hanukkah by breaking into Al-Aqsa to perform rituals and prayers.

Tens of settlers gathered themselves Sunday night to join the march, which started from the Western Wall, under heavy military protection, touring through the gates of Al-Aqsa Compound chanting racist slogans and calling for the expulsion and killing of Palestinians.

M.H