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11 Jan, 2016

Israel Committed 1,336 Violations against Muslim-Christian Holy Sites in 2015

RAMALLAH, January 10, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities and settlers committed over 1336 violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in the occupied Palestinian Territory during the year 2015, Minister of Religious Affairs and Awqaf, Yousef Ide’es, said on Sunday.

He said these violations included attacks on shrines, holy sites, worship places and Islamic cemeteries.

The minister said that during recent decades, Israel sought to step up settlement construction and expansion, including in East Jerusalem, seizing thousands of dunums of land.

Tension has been running high since October 2015 due to ongoing provocative tours by Jewish settlers inside al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, the third holiest place in Islam.

At least 152 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces’ fire since the beginning of unrest in the West Bank and Gaza in early October. Over 15,000 others have been reportedly injured.