As tensions between Israel and Palestine escalate over the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem,
Palestinian Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Alhaija expressed concern over the same and felt that India could play a role in getting the situation at the mosque complex de-escalate. The ambassador said the complex is in East Jerusalem—an “occupied territory”.
Palestinians would go there to offer prayers, but Israel recently installed electronic gates, metal detectors and barriers, which impeded worship. “It was an act of extreme provocation,'' the ambassador said.
The tensions have already claimed the lives of two Israeli police officers and three Palestinians who were engaged in a gun battle on July 14.
Palestine is garnering support across countries to back its stance. The UNESCO declared the Al- Aqsa mosque complex a “uniquely Muslim'' site last year. “There is no way that Palestinians both Christians and Muslims, can allow their holy sites to be desecrated and destroyed,'' he said.
The ambassador said India had always supported the cause of Palestine and that his government was confident that the Modi government was continuing with the same approach. “India has always been supportive of the two-state solution,” he said.
The ambassador said the Israeli media had made much hype and hoopla about Modi's visit to Israel recently, but that visit did not impact upon India and Palestinian equations.
Alhaija accused Israel of pushing for a religious war. “They want to change the situation from a political conflict to a religious war,'' he said.
