JERUSALEM, November 24, 2016 (WAFA) – Officials from the Muslim Waqf (endowment) department briefed visiting Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva Thursday on the latest situation at Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and Israeli violations of its sanctity, according to a Waqf statement.

Azzam Khatib, director of the Islamic Waqf, which is charge of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, and Yousef Natsheh, director of the Department of Archaeology at the Waqf, accompanied Silva in a tour of the compound and briefed him on Israeli and settlers’ violations of the holy site.

Natsheh informed Silva about Jewish settlers’ provocative tours in the compound, the excavations under and around the mosque and Israel’s restrictions on maintenance and renovation works in the compound’s facilities.

Waqf officials insisted that Silva’s visit be done without escort from Israeli officials or police.

Silva, on an official visit to Palestine and Israel, is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Riyad Malki in Ramallah on Friday and sign four cooperation agreements.

M.H./M.K.