Jerusalem, June 13: Israel’s “desecration” policy continues as it plans to build a courthouse complex on a large historic Muslim cemetery in al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The Mamilla cemetery, which lies just outside the Old City walls, dates back 1,000 years and, according to Islamic tradition, includes the resting places of companions of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his household).
Despite objections from Muslim groups, the Israeli authorities are pressing ahead to continue with the construction project, the Abu Dhabi newspaper The Nation reported on Saturday.
At the same site, during excavations last year for the Museum of Tolerance, as many as 1,500 Muslim graves were unearthed.
The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported that no Muslims were involved in the excavations, which were done amid great secrecy. The graves were unearthed and remains were reburied nearby, the Ha’aretz report added.
But, according to al-Quds City Councilor Meir Margalit, municipal officials said they had assured a judge that no graves had been discovered at the site during excavations.
However, a spokeswoman for the Israeli antiquities authority, which is responsible for conducting such digs, said in an interview that ancient graves were found at the proposed courthouse site when a trial excavation was conducted two years ago and the discovery was reported to the Israeli government.
“The municipality and government simply can’t be trusted on this issue, as has been amply demonstrated over the Museum of Tolerance plans,” Margalit said. “They have a history of not acting in good faith,” he noted.
-Agencies