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Palestinians Warn on Possible Obama Visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem


(AFP) Palestinian political and religious leaders on Sunday stressed that U.S. President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to visit Israel in March, should not visit the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem in a way that might compromise its "Muslim sovereignty." Sheikh Akrameh Sabri, head of the higher Islamic council and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, said that Obama must enter the compound through a gate that was not under Israeli auspices. "Any visitor is welcome to Al-Aqsa, but they should follow the regulations of the Waqf and enter through the Lions' Gate and not through Mughrabi Gate, to ensure Muslim sovereignty....Al-Aqsa belongs to Muslims only and it is their place of worship and we refuse that any Israeli official accompanies the visitor." The White House has announced neither the dates of Obama's visit nor its itinerary.
2013-03-01 00:00:00
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