KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday urged Israeli authorities to be “cautious” amid fears the walls of the ancient Al- Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds’ Old City were crumbling. “The Al-Aqsa is sacred to Muslims, considered a world heritage,” Abdullah was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

“Therefore the Israelis need to be cautious” given that Muslims were angry over the poor condition of the mosque, he said.

Malaysia, as chair of the world’s largest grouping of Islamic countries, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), demanded Israel take Muslim views and concern over the mosque’s condition into consideration, he said.

Abdullah said a United Nations’ resolution states any conflict between Israel and another party should not lead to destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli media reported last week that large sections of the 16th century walls surrounding Al Quds’ Old City were in danger of collapse unless they underwent immediate restoration.

The area in most need of work is a section flanking the southern supporting wall of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam, the reports said.

The site also houses the ruins of the ancient Jewish temple, the most sacred spot in Judaism, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly called attention to a bulge in the southern supporting wall of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, provoking tensions between the —AFP