OIC slams Israel's dangerous Al-Aqsa mosque move

RIYADH (AFP) - The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference condemned as illegal the entry Sunday of Israeli police into Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound and warned of dangerous consequences to the action.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Jeddah-based pan-Islamic body, said the police move, which sparked fighting that left several people injured, violated international law protecting houses of worship.
He tied it to the Israeli governments much-criticised move to renovate two contested West Bank holy sites - the Ibrahimi Mosque and Bilal bin Rabah Mosque - as Israeli heritage sites.
Such a breach, which comes days after the Israeli governments decision to illegally add the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Mosque of Bilal bin Rabah to the list of Israeli heritage sites, is a dangerous development in the Israeli scheme to stifle Islamic sanctities, Ihsanoglu said in a statement, using the Muslim names for the sites.
He warned that any damage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy places will have serious consequences with unpredictable danger to international peace and security.
Israeli police entered the compound to arrest Palestinians who had hurled rocks at visitors they believed were Jewish extremists.
Meanwhile, Jordans King Abdullah II condemned Israels aggressions on Jerusalems flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, where clashes Sunday between police and Palestinians left several people hurt.
The King warned at a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas that Israels provocative aggressions on Al-Aqsa would have dangerous repercussions, a palace statement said.
The King stressed that Israels unilateral measures are very provocative and seek to change the identity of Jerusalem, threatening peace efforts in the region.
The King and Abbas reiterated their condemnation of the plan.
Its not enough for the international community, including the United States to condemn Israel, the world should stop Israel, Abbas said, according to the statement.
He also warned that Israels move could ignite a religious war in the region.