Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary general Dr Yousef Al Othaimeen (left) chats with Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al Malki during an extraordinary meeting of the OIC's foreign ministers in Istanbul on August 1, 2017. Murad Sezer / Reuters
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary general Dr Yousef Al Othaimeen (left) chats with Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al Malki during an extraordinary meeting of the OIC's foreign ministerShow more

Metal detector removal at Al Aqsa 'small victory in long battle for freedom'



Israel's removal of metal detectors and security cameras from Al Aqsa mosque compound was "a small victory in the long battle for freedom", the Palestinian foreign minister told the main grouping of the world's Muslim nations on Tuesday in Istanbul.

But Riyad Al Malki accused Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to change the longstanding agreement whereby only Muslims are allowed to pray inside Al Aqsa mosque compound, although anyone can visit, including Jews.

"Netanyahu will try again to impose his status quo and we should prepare for the next round which could come very soon and be very nasty," he added.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu chaired the extraordinary meeting of his counterparts from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which Ankara had called in its current capacity as chairman of the body to discuss the crisis that erupted in Jerusalem last month.

Turkey has full diplomatic relations with Israel after resolving a crisis in ties last year but president Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains vehemently critical of its policy towards the Palestinians.

The meeting brought together foreign ministers and top officials from key Muslim nations, including Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Israel angered the Islamic world by installing metal detectors and security cameras at Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, known as Haram Al Sharif, following a July 14 attack in which Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli policemen.

The move sparked protests and deadly unrest, and last week the Israeli government removed the detectors and cameras.

Mr Cavusoglu said it was time Muslim countries started to help the Palestinians "not just with words but with actions".

"We must act to protect the Al Aqsa mosque and Palestine," he said. He reaffirmed a call made by Mr Erdogan on all Muslims to visit Jerusalem.

Last year Turkey and Israel ended a rift triggered by Israel's deadly storming in 2010 of a Gaza-bound ship that left 10 Turkish activists dead. The two sides have since embarked on a close energy cooperation venture to pipe Israeli gas to Turkey.

But Mr Erdogan, who regards himself a champion of the Palestinian cause, is still often critical of Israeli policy. His comments on the latest crisis have been among his toughest on Israel since the reconciliation deal.

The OIC's Saudi secretary general, Dr Yousef Al Othaimeen, meanwhile, called upon member states, financial institutions, both public and private sectors and individuals to provide all forms of assistance to the people of Jerusalem, particularly in the critical sectors, such as education, housing and health, according to the UAE's state news agency, Wam.

He said Monday's meeting was important in order to co-ordinate the efforts of OIC member states to confront Israeli plans to take control of Al Aqsa, which Israel has blockaded and isolated from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Dr Al Othaimeen added that the continuation of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem placed singular and collective responsibility on the shoulders of member states who he said should assume responsibility for ending Israeli aggressions and infractions at Al Aqsa.

* Reporting by Agence France-Presse

The years Ramadan fell in May

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE

Name: Enhance Fitness 

Year started: 2018 

Based: UAE 

Employees: 200 

Amount raised: $3m 

Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors 

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
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800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site