OIC slams Israel over Al-Aqsa mosque detectors

By Hussein Qabani

CAIRO (AA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decried an Israeli move to install cameras and metal detectors around Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In a statement on Sunday, the OIC termed the Israeli move as "illegal", calling for an emergency meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Monday to discuss Israeli violations against the holy compound.

Anger has spilled across the West Bank since last week when Israel shut the Al-Aqsa Mosque, venerated by Muslims and Jews, who call it Temple Mount, following a deadly shootout.

The mosque was reopened after a two-day closure, with Israel installing metal detectors and cameras at the mosque’s gates that Palestinians say aim to change the status quo -- a delicate balance of prayer and visiting rights.

Israel refused to remove the detectors, claiming the security measures were similar to procedures taken at other holy sites around the world.

Three Palestinians were killed in protests in Jerusalem against Israeli measures around the holy site on Friday. Three Jewish settlers were also killed in an alleged Palestinian attack in a settlement in the West Bank.

The city of Jerusalem is sacred to members of all there Abrahamic faiths -- Muslims, Jews, and Christians -- and the Al-Aqsa Mosque represents the Islamic world's third-holiest site.