PA Grand Mufti "emphasized the need for Ribat," religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic, in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood

Headline: “Wounded people in Jenin and the occupation imposed a reinforced closure of Sheikh Jarrah and attacked the residents and solidarity activists”

“[PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories Sheikh Muhammad Hussein emphasized the need for Ribat (i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic) and constant presence in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood [of Jerusalem] (see note below -Ed.). In an interview with [the official PA news agency] WAFA, he said: ‘The Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood is a large and unprecedented target for the settlers who are supported by the occupation authorities, and therefore we call to help the residents through Ribat and standing firm against this attack.’”

Muhammad Hussein also serves as Deputy Secretary-General and acting Secretary-General of the PLO Popular National Conference of Jerusalem.

The Sheikh Jarrah protests – Israeli courts have ruled that four Palestinian families living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem are to be evicted because they are living illegally in properties owned by Jews who were expelled in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence. The Palestinian residents were offered to stay if they would pay rent, but they refused and instead appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court. In April 2021 the planned eviction led to clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli police, which continued into May and served as one of the pretexts for further violent rioting during the Fatah/Hamas Riot and Rocket War 2021. A hearing scheduled by the Supreme Court for May 10, 2021, was postponed following intensified Palestinian riots and unrest both in Sheikh Jarrah and in East Jerusalem in general.