The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, condemned the escalating attacks by Israeli authorities against the holy city of Al-Quds, particularly the growing settlement movement and the confiscation by Israeli settlers of Palestinian property in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods. Ihsanoglu dubbed the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli fanatics as extremely dangerous and rife with unpredictable consequences. He pointed out that the intensifying Israeli aggressions against Muslim holy sites in the holy city calls for a firm and serious stand on the part of the Muslim Ummah [nation] to defend its religious sanctities. The Secretary General emphatically affirmed that the escalation of Israeli attacks demonstrates the need for tougher international pressure in order to coerce Israel to put an end to its violations and illegal practices and comply with the provisions of international law as well as curb attacks conducted by Israeli settlers against Palestinian citizens, their property and their holy sites.
