This year coincides with the 34 th anniversary of burning Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Qiblah , the third of the holy mosques and the place where the last Prophet Mohammad (may peace be upon him) was journeyed by night, by the Zionist gangs as an effort to destroy the Islamic sacred places in Palestine.

Denis Michele, a Jewish from Australia, set the fire to Al-Aqsa Mosque then the raging flames destroyed the Mosque�s furniture, walls and Salahuddin�s platform, a historical platform the great Muslim leader Salahuddin used to deliver his sermons after he liberated Al-Maqdis House. Also, the fires destroyed Omar Bin Al-Khatab Mosque, Zakaryia�s prayer place, the forty stand and three corridors leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque from the south to the north.

In this intentional accident, more than a third of the total area of Al-Aqsa Mosque was burned (roughly 1500 sqm out of the original size of 2.4400 sqm) . The fire caused a huge destruction to the constructions, pillars, bows and old ornamentations. Because of the fierce fire, the mosque�s roof, two main pillars and the bow holding the dome were collapsed. Some parts of the internal ornamented dome were destroyed, the prayer place (Mihrab), the south walls, 48 of the mosque�s windows which were made of the plaster and the colored glass all were totally destructed, the carpets were burned, as well as many ornaments.

All this was happened with the help and encouragement of the Zionist gangs under the permission of the Israeli occupation authorities, violating the international customs, laws and decisions giving the holy city a special status and rights as an ancient, modern and Islamic shrine.

After the accident, all the Islamic countries and peoples hurried to condemn this repulsive crime after it had raged the feelings of all the Muslims. Further, the summit conferences held by the Arab and Islamic countries besides the international conferences issued decisive condemnations against the sinful Zionist crime. Notwithstanding, the Zionist courts that acquitted the Australian criminal under the pretext that he was �mad� shocked the world! The criminal was set free without any punishment or even condemnation though he declared when he was arrested that what he has done was based upon a prophecy in Zakariya�s book ensuring that it was a religious duty he had to do. Ironically, the criminal declared that he was a messenger missioned by God!

The diplomatic efforts and the international calls that demanded Israeli government to pull back its troops out of the occupied lands, particularly out of Al-Quds, were really fruitless.

This aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque was not a sudden act; it was preceded by a number of dangerous attacks. Since the total occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, the occupation troops still continues in destroying all the Islamic and ancient buildings surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque, aiming by that to change the Islamic shrines that feature the holy city. For example, the Israeli occupation built the roads through Muslims� graveyards located by Al-Qudsi sanctuary. A number of these graveyards were shoveled away, like Al-Rahmah and Al-Yousefiyah. The Israeli forces then occupied other sites in Al-Quds, transforming them to military barracks. The most dangerous act committed by the Israelis was the continuous pursue to �Judaize� the city by using illegal ways included the confiscation of Palestinian lands and belongings as well as the performance of a horrible style of compulsion and terrorism against the Arab and Muslim habitants. They aim to �Judaize� the city and transfer the Jews from all over the world to the Palestinian territories, making Al-Quds the homeland and capital of the Jewish state.

In the early of 1969, the Isareali occupation troops removed Al-Maghribiyah district located by the mosque and destroyed many of the mosques and Islamic schools established during Al-Amawiayh country era. In 1992, the Israeli settlers committed a massacre against the armless praying Palestinian inside the Ibraheemi sanctuary at Hebron city in the West Bank; tens were killed and hundreds were injured. Since then, Israel works all tricks out to declare Jerusalem as the capital of the state.

The anniversary comes during the overwhelming Intifada by the Palestinian people and the sons of stones in the face of the Israeli arrogance expressed by the vexing visit paid by Sharon to Al- Aqsa Mosque, heading a group of religious extremists in a trial to profane the mosque. Since then, not only tens of the Palestinian martyrs are falling by the bullets of the occupation forces but even the children and old people were among the victims of the oppressive attacks.

All in all, can Arab hold a peaceful agreement with Israel? Can the claimed peace occur?