| Jamiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians), Johannesburg |
| ||||||||||
m the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama
Palestine We have written on many occasions about the heartbreaking and catastrophic situation in Palestine, and we have even drawn attention to the clear audacity of the Zionists in their total disregard for all, in their oppression in Occupied Palestine.
Currently, the situation is extremely horrendous. A glance of some of the recent events reveal shocking details.
The current onslaught on the Masjid al-Aqsa and the musallis of Masjid Alqsa has escalated in recent weeks. It is important to note that the attempts to strike at the foundation of the Sacred Masjid is a real and not perceived threat and the excuses of worshippers attacking tourists is a lie shaped to create a reason for attacking innocent worshippers and subsequently taking control of Masjid al-Aqsa. The violent attacks of the Israeli forces upon worshippers at the Masjid is frightening and shows an intent to stop at nothing in the attainment of their baseless objectives. It is a reflection of malicious intentions of the Zionist Israelis that they use devious methods in creating false impressions and then sadistically, brutally and viciously assault, strike and violently attack worshippers in the Blessed Masjid of Alqsa.
The Israeli settlers’ attacks on Palestinians attempting to harvest crops of olives and the wanton destruction of olive farms by the settlers under the watchful eye of the Israeli army is equally terrifying and shows the injustice and efforts to put a stranglehold upon the Palestinians.
The most recent report of Amnesty International shows how Palestinians are being deprived of basic needs such as water – where many are subjected to conditions where the amount of water available to them is way less than the minimum provided in even refugee camps. To make matters worse, the water that they are allowed to access is filthy and dangerous for consumption. In addition Palestinians are even prevented from digging wells to source water themselves. Finally, the lack of water has wreaked havoc with the sewage and waste disposal systems.
(The HINDU newspaper reported - Amnesty International is accusing Israel of pumping disproportionate amounts of drinking water from an aquifer it controls in the West Bank, depriving local Palestinians of their fair share.
Israelis use more than four times the amount of water per person on average than do Palestinians, whose consumption falls far below the minimum amount recommended by the World Health Organisation, said the report.
The report especially focuses on the so-called Mountain Aquifer in the West Bank.
It says that Israel uses more than 80 per cent of water drawn from the aquifer and while the Jewish state has other water sources, the aquifer is the West Bank’s sole supply of water.
As a result, the 450,000 Israelis who live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem use more water than the 2.3 million Palestinian residents, said Amnesty.
Excerpt from http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/28/stories/2009102859321500.htm)
The audacious moves of the Israelis to try and change International Law to suit their ends in their stubborn approach to the Goldstone Report – where they believe that current legislation considering the war and war crimes are not suited to an environment such as the present one.
These are just a few examples of broad events taking place. The situation on the ground; on a personal level is extremely severe and Palestinians are made to suffer untold sufferings and oppressions.
It is important that we understand our responsibility to Masjid al-Aqsa and to our fellow brothers and sisters in Palestine and assist in every way possible. It is important that we make du`aa to Allah for the alleviation of their sufferings and for the protection of His Beloved House.
May Allah (subhanahu wa ta`aala) guide us in all that we do. Aameen.
