RABAT: UAR President Gamal Abdel Nasser said yesterday [Sept 22] the fire in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was a “pre-meditated act” and a threat to free peoples throughout the world. President Nasser, reportedly ill with influenza in Cairo, sent a message to the opening session of the summit conference of Muslim leaders, convened to discuss the Al-Aqsa fire and the Israeli annexation of Jerusalem. President Nasser called on the participants of the summit to turn the meeting into a victory for the Arab cause against Israel.

President Nasser said that the Muslim countries were aware of their responsibilities. The Islamic summit has been called to win victory for a just and holy cause, he added. UAR Vice-President Anwar Sadat read President Nasser’s message to the opening meeting of the three-day conference in the ballroom of Rabat’s Hilton Hotel.

“Your Governments know of the Arab struggle against Zionism backed by imperialism,” President Nasser said. “It is hardly necessary for me to repeat this to the brothers dear to our heart present at this meeting. The fire put to the Al-Aqsa Mosque was a premeditated act and only one aspect of a picture which threatens not only the Arab nation but free people throughout the world, who are now able to measure the full dimensions of this threat.”

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2019