Palestinian officials condemn Israeli bulldozing at old cemetery

Al-Aqsa Association for Waqf and Heritage reported on Wednesday it was able to halt Israeli bulldozing and ravaging of an Islamic graveyard in the town of Jaffa. The association, located in the town of Umm Fahm north Israel, said that the bulldozing was ordered by Tel Aviv Municipality, aiming to level and prepare the graveyard annexed to Al-Ajami mosque in Jaffa, which is inhabited by a large number of Arabs, for new construction projects. Israel wants to build a sports facility on the property, said the association, adding that it has demanded bulldozers stop digging the graves dating back to the Ottoman era. Israeli officials claimed ignorance of the nature of the land or existence of graves upon start of excavation, saying that they aim to build new tourist attractions at the site. The association recalled and provided documented proof of tombstones and remains in the graveyard to Israeli officials in charge of the construction work, calling on them to stop excavations immediately. The incident comes a few weeks after Israeli bulldozers destroyed Ma'man Allah Cemetery in Jerusalem, which is the site of graves of well-known Islamic figures and scholars dating back 1400 years, along with graves of Jerusalem citizens. Israel had planned to build a "Museum of Tolerance" on the ravaged land along with a coffee shop, and had dug as deep as 15 meters within cemetery grounds.