Tens of members and supporters of the Israel Islamic Association held a vigil outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv on Monday 22 Adar 5773, calling on US President Barak Obama to refrain from visiting Har Habayis during his upcoming visit to Israel.

Participants carried the organization’s flag along with photos of administrative prisoners hunger-striking in Israeli prisons. They also carried signs saying “Mending of relations with Netanyahu will not be on the backs of Palestinian Arabs” along with signs supporting exclusive Islamic control of Har Habayis. “We will sacrifice our blood and our lives for al-Aqsa” read some of the signs.

Israel Islamic Association northern branch leader Sheikh Raid Salah added in his address “We are here after hearing Obama plans to visit the Temple Mount. We are compelled to gather outside the American Embassy to deliver our message, in the name of Islam and Palestinian Arabs, to tell President Obama that if you permit yourself to visit al-Aqsa accompanied by even one official of the Israeli occupation, and it is irrelevant who that person is, it signals your support for the occupation and that you wish to be an enemy of Islam”.

Regarding the hunger-striking prisoners, Salah added “I want to tell you all, including those who took part in hunger strikes earlier, they succeeded and you will to. We will continue to wage the battle for you are entitled to be released from Israeli prisons to return to your families.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)