Sheikh of Al-Azhar angered by Israeli movie

The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb on Monday denounced a new Israeli film depicting the Dome of the Rock as being demolished and replaced by a Jewish temple. "The Facts about Jerusalem" film, produced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, is part of a vicious Israeli campaign against the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Islamic identity of the occupied city of Jerusalem, Dr. Al-Tayyeb said during his meeting with Najeh Bakirat, director of Al-Aqsa Mosque dept. Dr. Al-Tayyeb highlighted the prestigious status of the holy Mosque in hearts of all Muslims, urging the Muslim countries to promote awareness about the history of the Mosque, in particular, and the occupied Palestine in general. He warned against that the aggressive practices, being committed systematically by the Israeli occupation authorities against Muslims, risk igniting a religious war in the region, according to a statement issued by Al-Azhar Sheikhdom. On his part, Bakirat, now on a visit to Egypt, briefed Dr. Al-Tayyeb on the escalating Israeli violations of the sanctity of the Mosque including the alleged archaeological excavations under the Mosque. The Dome of the Rock is located at the center of Al-Aqsa Mosque - the Muslims' third holiest site, in Old Jerusalem. The movie features Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon speaking in front of the Dome of the Rock before it disappears and is replaced by Jewish temple.