Jerusalem's Mufti: Government and opposition coordination needed

Jerusalem's Mufti told ArabicNews.com that coordination between the Palestinian government and the opposition is a matter of necessity.

Jerusalem's Mufti, Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, urged the Palestinian government, Hamas' leadership and the Islamic Jihad movement to abandon their disputes and coordinate their efforts, especially at this critical stage of Palestinian development.

In a statement to ArabicNews.com, Sheikh Sabri said, "It is not for our good to split up, the disputes between us weaken the Palestinian issue and Israel bets on that." He added, "The Palestinian leadership should help Hamas and should coordinate with it on opening a serious and a strong discussion among all the Palestinians."

Jerusalem's Mufti also accused Arab and Islamic leaders of being unaware of what is happing in Jerusalem, saying that they "have not heard Palestinian screams for more than 30 years, and if the Arabs and the Moslems intended to liberate Jerusalem they would have planned for it and they should have informed us, but this did not happen."

Sheikh Ekrema criticized the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, saying that they sympathize with the Palestinians but do not take practical measures, and that nothing has happened to liberate Jerusalem.

About the United Nation's role in liberating Jerusalem, he said, "The United Nations will not move as long as the Arabs and the Moslems do not move to save Jerusalem."