Dr. Ghassan Mustafa Al-Shami
The Arab and Muslim nation has been long asleep as the Zionist occupation continues its diabolical crimes and plans to Judaize Al-Quds and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. Some Arab countries are even longing to normalize with the oppressing Zionist entity despite the ongoing murders, banishment, and displacement procedures followed against the people of Al-Quds; the Judaization and settlement crimes in Al-Quds; and the Zionist annexation plans.
We commemorate the 20th anniversary of Al-Aqsa Intifada, the painful memory of the violation of the Islamic holy places which were attacked by the Zionist enemy. Al-Aqsa Intifada brings to our minds the huge crime of Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister at the time, when he broke into Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa under heavy soldiers’ protection. It was a horrendous crime that Sharon profaned the holy arenas of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, but our Palestinian people rallied together against such crime that exposed some of the enemy’s intentions in relation to Al-Quds and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Today, we live in the shadows of the anniversary of the break-in crime, yet Al-Quds and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa still suffer from the Judaization crimes, the settlement attempts, the levelling of lands, the demolition of homes, the banishment of citizens and displacement of Palestinians away from Al-Quds and the Masjid. At a quick pace, the Zionist occupation works tirelessly to execute its annexation plans and transfer of the Zionist embassy to Al-Quds, and Judaize the entire city as it steals its history and Arab and Islamic monuments.
In this Intifada, our people sacrificed thousands of martyrs and wounded; children, women, elderly, and youngsters. Our hearts and prayers go to the souls of our martyrs and the sacrifices of our brave people. We must never forget the great prisoners whom we must support and remind of their approaching victory and inevitable freedom from the Zionist occupation’s jails.
Sharon’s break-in crime 20 years ago is continuously played back with every tragic and provocative incursion the Zionist settlers carry out as they also kill, arrest and banish the people of Al-Quds from Al-Quds and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.
The twentieth anniversary should remind everyone, from all factions and political parties, to stand together united against the Zionist enemy’s crimes. It is imperative that we move forward with our national liberation project to build our state of Palestine with Al-Quds as its capital. This anniversary must also remind the Arab and Muslim nation to rescue Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa from the crimes and plans of the Zionist occupation, and to stand in its face and prevent it from executing such plans. This must encourage everyone to reject the US Zionist plans to Judaize Palestine and its Islamic holy sites, and plans to displace its people from their homes and land.