Palestine Wants Complete Freedom Of Worship In Al Quds

JAKARTA - The Palestinian government wants freedom of worship in Al Quds or Jerusalem as a whole, not only for Muslims but also for all mankind.

“We want Al Quds to be open to all mankind, to come and make pilgrimages. For Muslims, they can pray at the Aqsa Mosque, for Christians, they can worship in the churches there and even for Jews when carrying out worship in their respective places in Palestine," said the Palestinian Presidential Advisor on religious matters and the Palestinian Supreme Judge. Mahmoud Al-Habbash in a virtual discussion with the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) in Jakarta, Sunday.

Mahmoud emphasized that his party did not want to abolish freedom of worship for anyone, but wanted sovereignty for the land of Palestine and guarantees worship for all religious people in Palestine.

"We want Al Quds to become part of a Palestinian state," he said.

He explained that currently Al Quds is under constant attack by Israel which is trying to expel Palestinians from Jerusalem.

As happened in Sheikh Jarrah, he continued, the Israeli army expelled the Palestinians who were there and at the same time allowed Israelis to enter Al Quds.

Israel enforces a time division, namely from 07.00 until midday (around 12.00) local time, Israeli citizens are allowed to enter the Aqsa Mosque and prohibit Palestinians from entering the mosque.