Gaza - Mohamed Habib
Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Youssef Ada'eis confirmed that the Israeli government's decision to ban useing of loudspeakers to amplify calls to prayer in mosques in Jerusalem and the the Arab surrounding neighborhoods, expresses the Israeli clear racist toward the sons of the Islamic religion in Jerusalem.
Ada'eis said, in an exclusive interview with Arabs Today, that such racism exceeded the political dimensions and became religious crisis of what threatens the entire region of religious war, through the violations of freedom of beliefs and means of expression as guaranteed by heavenly and international laws.
The minister stressed that this decision will not change the reality of the religious city of Jerusalem, but will make the Palestinian people more committed to their holy places, which reflects their national identity and political culture.
He called also the international community and the Arab and Islamic worlds to protect the holy places and the Islamic and Christian holy sites, and working on pushing the Israeli government to retreat from these extremist and irresponsible decisions.
In another context, Ada'eis stressed that there is nothing new, regarding the Umrah season in the Gaza Strip, by the Egyptian authorities.
Concerning the next pilgrimage season, Ada'eis confirmed that things are going so well, and the pilgrimage protocol, which was signed days ago, had put instructions in order to serve the pilgrims.
He pointed out that the percentage, which was deducted from the Palestine stake in the pilgrimage because of the expansion was back again, stressing the percentage will be distributed between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank according to the protocol.
Ada'eis confirmed that the number of pilgrims to Palestine for this year has returned to what it was previously, where it will reach to 6600, from the northern and southern provinces.
Ada'eis stated that this decision was made under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, after the near completion of the first phase of the expansion in Makkah, expressing his appreciation for all the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to serve pilgrims.