Palestinians warn Israel over synagogue move

Wednesday, Mar 17, 2010

Gulf News

Dubai Angry Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in occupied East Jerusalem yesterday, while thousands demonstrated across Gaza following increased tension over the re-dedication of a synagogue in the old city of Jerusalem and Israel's colony-building plans.

Many protesters were arrested and at least 60 Palestinians were injured, according to various reports.

Hamas had called on Palestinians to "regard Tuesday [yesterday] as a day of rage against the occupation's [Israel's] procedures in [occupied] Jerusalem against Al Aqsa mosque".

Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khalid Mesha'al said the reopening of the synagogue by Israel could lead to an "explosion" in the Middle East. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference said the move risked "dragging the region into a religious war."

Abdullah Kannan, Secretary General of the Jordanian Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs, said extremist Jews' call to storm the Al Aqsa complex fuels Arab and Muslim fears. "If this happens, a gate of hell will open, and we don't know who will close it," he told Gulf News.

The violence came amid deepening crisis in the US-Israeli relations with officials in Washington saying that Middle East envoy George Mitchell has delayed his departure.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Israel must prove it is committed to peace process with actions.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman insisted on plans to build colonies in occupied Jerusalem.