Grand Mufti of Jerusalem: harsh criticism of the Israel-Emirates agreement

For Muhammad Hussein, the Abu Dhabi signing is a "stab in the back for Palestinians and Muslims" and a "betrayal for Muslim and Christian holy places". And it prevents UAE Muslims from praying in al-Aqsa. Last week the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies (FPPMS) issued a note, later deleted, in support of the normalization of relations.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The grand mufti of Jerusalem yesterday resigned from the Forum for the Promotion of Peace, based in the United Arab Emirates, in protest against the public support of the organization for the normalization of relations between Abu Dhabi and Israel.

This is the second resignation in a few days of a leading personality from the organism based in the Gulf country where the document on human fraternity was signed by Pope Francis and the imam of al-Azhar.

According to reports from the Palestinian agency Wafa, Muhammad Hussein announced his intention to leave the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies (Fppms) during a press conference. In a note, the Muslim leader stressed that "normalisation is a stab in the back of Palestinians and Muslims, and a betrayal for Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem".

Last week, the FPPMS issued a statement, later canceled, that normalization could "stop Israel from extending its sovereignty over Palestinian lands" and is also a way to "promote peace and stability in the world". Emirati leaders have called the pact an "effective means" to stem Israel's expansionist policy, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the goal of "annexing part of the West Bank".

Previously, Hussein issued a statement condemning the agreement and forbidding Muslims in the United Arab Emirates to visit and pray inside the Al-Aqsa mosque.

On 23 August, the American Muslim activist Aisha al-Adawiya cancelled her membership in the forum, again for the same reason. The issue of normalization of relations, the religious leader stressed, "was never raised in the recent meeting" of the commission and "there was no agreement on the support of the agreement between the UAE and Israel". This is why, he concludes, with this "violation" "trust" has been lost.

Without resigning, other prominent personalities of the forum have distanced themselves from the declaration of support for the normalization of relations. They include Abdullah al-Matouq, adviser to the royal family of Kuwait.

The FPPMS was born in 2014 and is led by Mauritanian religious leader and former politician Abdullah bin Bayyah.