Palestinian Media Reveal S. Arabia, UAE's Attempts to Open State Office in Jerusalem

Rasa - A Palestinian media outlet disclosed joint efforts by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to inaugurate a joint state office in Jerusalem al-Quds near the al-Aqsa mosque.

News ID: 438522

Date: 03 July 2018 - 21:58

RNA - "Information shows UAE's attempts to purchase the building near al-Aqsa mosque was aimed at inauguration of a joint Saudi-UAE office in al-Quds city," Palestine Today newspaper quoted informed sources as saying on Monday.

It added that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are attempting to increase presence in occupied Quds city to rival Jordan that is in charge of the guardianship of al-Aqsa mosque and other holy Islamic places in Quds city.

Earlier reports also said that an Emirati businessman close to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed, is trying to buy Palestinian houses and properties in Jerusalem (al-Quds), specially those which are close to al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to the report by the Middle East Monitor, it is said that he is doing this through a businessman from Jerusalem who’s affiliated with exiled former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan.

According to Fars News Agancy, Kamal Khatib, a former deputy leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, warned in a statement on June 6 that the businessman offered $5 million to a local Palestinian to buy his house adjacent to Al-Aqsa.

The house owner, apparently, declined, even when the initial offer was raised to $20m. Khatib warned that such efforts are similar to those in 2014, when “Mohammed Bin Zayed’s regime” bought houses in Silwan and Wadi Hilwa in occupied East Jerusalem in order to sell them to Israeli settler organizations.

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