Sakhnin students strike to 'defend Al-Aqsa'
Organized via Facebook, students call on Israeli government to not harm Al-Aqsa Mosque, 'to enable Muslims to pray'.
About 3,500 students from five high schools and middle schools in Sakhnin left their classes Monday morning to demonstrate solidarity with the protest against "Israel's violation of Al-Aqsa Mosque" following several days of clashes at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Students waved Palestinian flags and called on the Israeli government not to harm Al-Aqsa, "to enable Muslims to pray" and "The decision came from Sakhnin - Intifada and victory ".
Protesters came from each school in Sakhnin and converged at Sakhnin's main square.
The protests concern the security establishment's restrictions on praying at the mosque: Muslims under the age of 50 are not allowed entry, and sometimes thousands of women and young people come to Al Aqsa, but their entry is blocked.
The demonstration was organized Sunday evening via Facebook. "What is happening in Al-Aqsa Mosque and East Jerusalem really hurts us," Ahmed Abu Raya, a student and Sakhnin told Ynet. "We saw fit to stop our studies and go out to the street today to have our voices heard."
"We are a part of the issue, and we have the right to ask the prime minister and the minister of public security to instruct the police to be respectful of the worshipers and not humiliate them," he said. "If the situation in Jerusalem does not calm down the fight will gain strength everywhere. We are ready to have all the schools go on strike and stay on the street for Al-Aqsa. An attack upon it is a red line . We can not accept this quietly."
Islam Usman, a father of one of the students and IT manager of Sakhnin City Hall, said: "The students are influenced by what they see in the media and decided to be part of the struggle".
Another student said: "All schools should go on strike and take to the streets. I personally can not bear it any longer. It saddens me to see what is happening around Jerusalem and stay at home. The government must understand that we will sacrifice our lives for al-Aqsa, and all the shooting and other means will not deter us. We'll stay strong until the last minute. Apparently the government wants to egg us on and cause another October 2000 event."
The students met with Sakhnin Mayor Mazen Ganaim, who told them: "You are giving a clear message that we as a society will not allow desecratation the Al-Aqsa Mosque or churches and holy places for Muslims and Christians. We see a danger in everything that is happening at Al Aqsa, but the worst are the excavations under the mosque. These things are red lines."
