Former Israeli Army Returns Al Aqsa's Stolen Key 56 Years Ago

Al Aqsa/UNSPLASH/Raimond Kriminians Mosque

JAKARTA - A former Israeli soldier returned the gate to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied area of East Jerusalem after stealing it 56 years ago.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem on Thursday broadcast a video showing the department's director general, Sheikh Azzam Al-Katib, receiving the key from the man named Yair Barack.

In the video, Barack claimed to have been part of the Israeli battalion that fought on the front of East Jerusalem. He also revealed that many of his comrades in arms died in the 1967 battle.

"At that time I arrived at the Al-Mugharabi Gate (the western corridor of the Al-Aqsa Mosque)...and as soon as I looked to the left, I found a key. I don't know why I took the key," Barack said as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 19.

"I put the key in my pocket, and since then, I've kept it," he added.

Barack said after 40 or 50 years, he became uncomfortable keeping the key "it's certain because I stole it and now I decided to return it."

"Now I am here. I return the key that I stole. I return it to the owner... and this is what Israel should do, namely restoring land, rights, honor, independence, freedom and security to the Palestinian people," he said.

He admitted that he had returned the key and felt he had "made the right thing."

Barack returned the key after Israeli settlers and Israeli officials held a march to celebrate the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.

Commenting on the controversial march, he called it one of the worst days of his year. He admitted that he had not celebrated the "flagged day" for a long time.

The Flag Parade is held by Israeli settlers every year to commemorate what they call Jerusalem's unification which refers to the occupation of the city by Israel in 1967.

"That day I became part of the occupation. I hope I don't do it, which is to control Jerusalem." he regretted.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel annexed the entire city in 1980, but was never recognized by the international community.