Israel's illegal operations near the holy site were stepped up in recent weeks, with bulldozers demolishing wooden bridge, a hill and other archaeological sites under heavy presence by Israeli police and occupation forces who clashed with Palestinians on Friday.

And following the fierce confrontation between the Israeli forces and Palestinians at Al Aqsa mosque that was sparked by the Occupation forces' attack on the holy site, Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, sent a letter to the President of the Security Council denouncing another Israeli crime and dangerous violation of its obligations under international law, international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

"Israeli occupying forces yet again proved their belligerence and lack of respect for Muslim Holy sites and the Palestinian people's right to worship by storming into the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound today during Friday prayers in Occupied East Jerusalem," reads the letter sent to Mr. Burian.

"More than 300 Israeli occupying forces proceeded to fire rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowds of Palestinian civilians who were barred by Israeli occupying forces from entering Al-Haram Al-Sharif," Mr. Mansour said in the letter.

Earlier, Muin Shreim, Chargé d'affaires of the Palestine Permanent Observer to the United Nations, sent a letter to President of the UN Security Council also condemning Israel's illegal actions, especially in Occupied East Jerusalem, which he said are aimed at expanding the colonization and stepping up Judaization of Arab Jerusalem, with the support of fanatic Jewish settler groups.

In his letter to H.E. Mr. Peter Burian, Mr. Shreim said Israel is continuing its campaign to Judaize Jerusalem and create a new demographic composition in the Old City.

"Such actions demonstrate clearly the intransigence of the Israeli Government and its persistence in defying the will of the international community and in violating international law and United Nations resolutions," he said in the letter.

He called on the world body to take measures to confront these Israeli barbaric policies and actions, in a way that ensures respect for international law and prevent further deterioration of the security situation in the troubled Middle East region.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Excellency,

"In follow-up to our letter dated 24 January 2007, Israel, the occupying Power, has stepped up its illegal actions, especially in Occupied East Jerusalem, which aim to intensify expansionist policy for the colonization and Judaization of Arab Jerusalem, with the support of fanatic Jewish settler groups.

"Israel, the occupying Power, is continuing its campaign to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and create a new demographic composition in the occupied city. Such actions demonstrate clearly the intransigence of the Israeli Government and its persistence in defying the will of the international community and in violating international law and United Nations resolutions. In this context, it is imperative for the international community to take measures in order to confront these Israeli policies and actions, to ensure respect for international law and to prevent further escalation of the situation in the region.

"In line with this unchecked intransigence, Israeli occupying authorities have gone ahead with the condemnable plan to step up its aggression against Islamic Waqf sites in Occupied East Jerusalem. Most notably, Israeli occupying authorities have begun demolishing a historic road connecting Bab Al-Maghariba with the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in addition to two rooms adjacent to the Western Wall, thus exposing the Holy Compound and making it more vulnerable yet to future acts of aggression.

"Additionally, Israeli occupying authorities continue to carry out excavation works below the Holy Al-Aqsa Compound, undermining its foundations and threatening with its collapse.

"There are also concerning reports that Israel, the occupying Power, plans to construct a tourist site below the Holy Al-Aqsa Compound, further raising fears about serious threats facing the Holy Compound. Additionally, Israeli occupying authorities have banned Palestinians below the age of 45 from entering the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in grave contravention of their basic right to access their holy sites and clear violation of Israel's obligations, as an occupying Power, to ensure and protect that right.

H.E. Mr. Peter Burian
President of the Security Council
The United Nations
New York

"These provocative actions are not the first of their kind. Since 1968, the Security Council has adopted 16 resolutions regarding the city of Jerusalem, and repeatedly declared that all measures and arrangements taken by Israel, the occupying Power, including the legislative and administrative ones, which aim at changing the legal status, demographic composition and character of the city, are null and void and without any legal validity whatsoever. Furthermore, the Security Council has repeatedly reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to all the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including East Jerusalem.

"Obviously, the drive by Israel, the occupying Power, to Judaize Jerusalem and to illegally change the status, demographic composition, and character of the Holy City is intensifying amid the inability of the Security Council to stop the Israeli violation of international law and relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

"The Security Council, as the body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, has the responsibility to take immediate action in order to reverse the Israeli decision, bring an end to the Israeli violations and guarantee respect for the Council's resolutions and for international law.

"It must be absolutely clear that Israel, as an occupying Power, has responsibilities in accordance with international law that it must respect with regards to safeguarding holy sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as ensuring and respecting Palestinians' rights to access their holy sites. Respecting these rights is not a luxury Israel can choose to bestow on the Palestinian people it occupies. Instead, it is an obligation that Israel must be compelled to respect.

"I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter made available for the members of the Security Council for their urgent consideration.

"Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Muin Shreim
Chargé d'affaires, a.i.

Israel's attack on Palestinians at Al Aqsa yard yesterday left 50 Palestinians wounded. Israeli police also announced that 17 Muslim worshippers were detained as part of the raid.

Mohammed Hussein, the top Muslim cleric in Jerusalem told Al Ayam newspaper that the attack by Israeli forces took place shortly after Muslim worshipers finished Friday prayers at the mosque.

" Muslim worshipper had barely finished their prayer when we heard the sound of firing stun grenades, tear gas canisters and rubber coated steel bullets towards the worshippers at the yards of Al Aqsa mosque then afterwards large troops stormed into yard, the worshippers run into the mosque to seek shield, " Mr. Hussein said.

Also ambassadors of Islamic states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, to Republic of Bangladesh, issued an official condemnation of the Israeli actions on Saturday.

The ambassadors urged in their statement all international organisations to condemn this savage act against Islamic holy sites.

"Israel aims at creating a new demographic composition in the occupied city and to illegally change the status, demographic composition, and character of the Holy City," the statement said, calling for an immediate halt of such violations and stressing that the Palestinian Islamic Committee is the sole responsible of rehabilitating and reconstructing Al Aqsa mosque.

Israel's violations and aggression against Palestinians and Muslims will carry on unless a strong and unified action is taken by the Muslim world leaders with the help of the United Nations.

islamonline.com