15 Feb 2022; MEMO: The Imam of Al Aqsa Mosque and Head of the High Islamic Commission in Jerusalem described Israeli violations in Sheikh Jarrah on Monday as "an existential war and ethnic cleansing against Jerusalemites," Sama News has reported.
"The Israeli efforts to capture Sheikh Jarrah are illegal, and neither humane nor civilised," insisted Sheikh Ekrima Sabri during a solidarity visit to the neighbourhood. He reiterated that Jerusalemites will continue to defend their holy sites, property and rights against all forms of Israeli aggression. "We must not surrender to the greed of the Israeli occupation and its aggression, and its decisions should not be considered legitimate."
Sheikh Sabri placed the full responsibility for what is happening in Sheikh Jarrah on the Israeli occupation authorities. "The Israeli government is backing the extremist settlers and their attacks and terrorism against unarmed and peaceful Palestinian residents," he pointed out.
The octogenarian Imam hailed the resilience of the residents of Sheikh Jarrah who refuse to surrender to Israeli policies and settler terrorism.
Israeli occupation aggression against the Palestinians and their homes in occupied Jerusalem neighbourhoods is ongoing. Earlier today, the occupation forces raided three houses near the house of Fatemeh Salem, which settlers are trying to take over illegally, and confiscated CCTV cameras. The Deputy Head of the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality, Aryeh King, also made a provocative visit to Sheikh Jarrah along with extremist parliamentarian Itamar Ben-Gvir.
