OIC denounces new Israeli claim on Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has denounced the new Israeli claim that Al-Aqsa Mosque is part of the Israeli territory. "The Islamic nation will not accept any move by Israel to encroach on Al-Aqsa, the third holiest mosque for Muslims," OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeledin Ihsanoglu said. He called on ambassadors of Muslim countries, who are members of UNESCO, to act immediately to stop Israeli aggression on religious and heritage sites in occupied Jerusalem. He warned the Israeli move aimed to pave the way for more aggressions on the holy mosque. The OIC chief was reacting to a statement by the Israeli government’s legal advisor Yehuda Feinstein alleging that Al-Aqsa "is an inseparable part of the Israeli territories." A leading advocate of Jerusalem has warned of fresh Israeli claims that the courtyard of the mosque is part of the Israeli territories. Hassan Khater, chairman of the International Jerusalem Center, said the Israeli rhetoric signaled its plan to Judaize what has been left of Jerusalem. Ihsanoglu said: "The presence of Israel in Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem is false and illegitimate and it must end in accordance with the international law." He said the Hague Agreements of 1899, 1907 and 1954 and Geneva Accord of 1949 apply to Al-Aqsa Mosque.