RIYADH, Aug 5: Al Quds (Jerusalem) and the Qibla-i-Awwal have been forgotten and ignored, the imam of Masjid Al Aqsa Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri lamented in a press statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday. He expressed anguish and deep sorrow over the Muslim and Arab apathy towards the cause.

Commenting on the sorry state of affairs, the Imam said that the issues of the Al Quds and of Al Aqsa are not on the priority list or on the agenda of the Palestinian leadership and politicians. “The Palestinian leaders indulge in internal disputes leading to the negligence of Al Quds,” he added. “The internal conflicts plus Arab-Arab problems have made a negative impact on Al-Quds and Islamic sites,” he noted.

With regard to sympathy of the Arabs for Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Sabri said “We see that the Arab sympathy (for the cause) is weak and everyone is busy with their own problems. Thus Al Quds is being forgotten and ignored. We must emphasise and remind all Arabs and Muslims that this city is in our total trust. It is our asset and we call on the media to focus on the issue of Al Quds,” the imam underlined in the media statement.