ASIA/HOLY LAND - Still tensions at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Fr.Neuhaus: when sacred things are touched, rage always explodes

Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - The Israeli government has ordered the removal of installed metal detectors to control the entry at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. But it is still early to understand whether this measure will have an impact on the tension and violence unleashed around the Holy City where the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock are situated. "In Jerusalem", reports to Agenzia Fides, Fr. David Neuhaus SJ, Patriarchal Vicar for Jewish Catholics in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, "there is great bitterness, anger, frustration, which is repeated over and over again. There is no need to be prophets to know in advance that when sacred and religious things are touched, unforeseen consequences arise".
On Monday, July 24, the Jordanian media reports that King Abdallah II of Jordan, in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had asked for the cancellation of all new security measures - including metal detectors - by the Israeli government to control and restrict entry to al-Aqsa mosque after the armed attack on on July 14, in which three Palestinian bombers had killed two Israeli soldiers.
"We can only hope that King Abdallah II of Jordan can play an important role, since the Hashemi Monarchy is traditionally responsible of the protection of the holy Muslim places in Jerusalem," reports to Fides Fr. Neuhaus. "As for the rest", the Jesuit priest added, "we are called to be witnesses of the Resurrection in this situation, praying and trusting in the Lord". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2017).

Share:

middle east

---

---

holy places

---

---