Cairo, September 28 (RHC)-- The Arab Parliament has condemned repeated desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers under the protection of regime troops.   In a statement released in Cairo, the Parliament called for an end to violations against the holy site, respecting its sanctity and the authority of the al-Quds Endowments Administration.

The statement reaffirmed that the mosque with its entire area is a pure place of worship for Muslims and under the Jordan-Run Islamic Waqf Department, which is in charge of al-Aqsa Mosque affairs.  The Arab Parliament said restrictions at Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil and deadly raids by Israeli forces across the occupied territories and attacks on protesters in Gaza amount to “crimes against humanity.”

The Parliament said the Israeli violations provoke more violence and complicate the conflict.  Hundreds of Israeli settlers intruded into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the eve of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and provocatively performed rituals and Talmudic prayers.

In defiance of condemnations, Israeli setters continued their provocative actions this week.   Israel imposed restrictions at the gates of al-Aqsa to deny Muslim worshipers entry. Regime forces attacked a number of worshipers and drove them out.

Non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited according to an agreement between Israel and Jordan following the regime’s seizure of East al-Quds in 1967.

Calls for the regular presence of Jewish extremists in the al-Aqsa Mosque have increased in recent days concurrent with holidays marking the Jewish New Year.