JERUSALEM, June 4, 2018 (WAFA) - The head of the committee in charge of Islamic cemeteries in Jerusalem, Mustafa Abu Zahra, on Monday accused the Israeli courts of colluding with the Israel Nature Authority in its efforts to take over an historic Muslim cemetery in East Jerusalem.

Abu Zahra told Voice of Palestine radio that an Israeli court rejected a petition calling for a halt in the Nature Authority’s construction of a fence around  parts of Bab al-Rahmeh cemetery, located outside the wall of Jerusalem’s Old City to the east of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The cemetery is one of the oldest Islamic graveyards in Palestine and contains remains of a large number of important and historic Muslim leaders and religious figures.

Staff from the Israel Nature Authority has been trying of lately to work on parts of the cemetery, digging ancient graves and fencing off land in what Abu Zahra said was an attempt to attach it to a nearby excavation site and to build a base for a future cable car that is supposed to go over the Old City from Mount of Olives to West Jerusalem.

The Israeli work on the cemetery has provoked strong protests from Palestinians who have members of their families buried there. The protests have evolved into clashes with police, who gave protection to the Israelis while working on the land.

M.K.