Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
13 October
ISRAEL'S AL AQSA AGGRESSIONS AND LIES
On this day in 2016, UNESCO condemned Israel’s “escalating aggressions” against the holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The UK (as is usual) sided with Israel against the world cultural body and voted against the resolution, which notes “the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions.” Israeli government officials falsely claimed the motion denies a Jewish connection to the historical site.
الاعتداءات على الأقصى وأكاذيب إسرائيل
13 أكتوبر
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام 2016، أدانت اليونسكو "الاعتداءات الإسرائيلية المتصاعدة" على الموقع المقدس في المدينة القديمة بالقدس، والمعروفة لدى المسلمين باسم الحرم الشريف واليهود باسم جبل الهيكل. وقفت المملكة المتحدة (كالعادة) إلى جانب إسرائيل ضد المنظمة الثقافية العالمية (اليونسكو) وصوتت ضد القرار الذي يشير إلى "أهمية المدينة القديمة في القدس وجدرانها للديانات التوحيدية الثلاثة". زعم مسؤولو الحكومة الإسرائيلية زوراً أن الاقتراح ينفي وجود صلة يهودية بالموقع التاريخي.
While "affirming the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions", the UNESCO motion then "strongly condemns the Israeli escalating aggressions and illegal measures against the Awqaf Department and its personnel, and against the freedom of worship and Muslims’ access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif, and requests Israel, the Occupying Power, to respect the historic Status Quo and to immediately stop these measures;
The motion also "deplores the continuous storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif by the Israeli rightwing extremists and uniformed forces, and urges Israel, the Occupying Power, to take necessary measures to prevent provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity of Al-Aqsa
Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
"Deeply deplores the failure of Israel, the Occupying Power, to cease the persistent excavations and works in East Jerusalem particularly in and around the Old City, and reiterates its request to Israel, the Occupying Power, to prohibit all such works in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of the relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions.
"Disapproves the Israeli restriction of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif during the Eid Al-Adha 2015 and the subsequent violence and calls on Israel, the Occupying Power, to stop all violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif;
"Also regrets the damage caused by the Israeli Forces, especially since 23 August 2015, to the historic gates and windows of the Qibli Mosque inside Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and reaffirms, in this regard, the obligation of Israel to respect the integrity, authenticity and cultural heritage of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, as reflected in the historic Status Quo, as a Muslim Holy Site of worship and as an integral part of a World Cultural Heritage Site;
Despite the UNESCO motion "affirming the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions", the main stream media focussed overhwelmingly on Israeli claims to the contrary.