Israel allocates $15m for building synagogue near al-Aqsa

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said the Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday will lay the foundation stone for a huge synagogue, called the Jewel of Israel, in the heart of the old city of occupied Jerusalem. The Foundation said in a statement that the synagogue, which will be located only 200 meters to the west of Al-Aqsa Mosque, will consist of four floors, topped by a vaulted dome in addition to an underground space. A special ceremony will be held to announce the start of construction and will be attended by political and religious Israeli leaders. The Israeli government will finance the construction of the synagogue with 50 million shekels ( 15 million dollars) and will approve this exceptional budget in a bid to Judaize the occupied holy city. This synagogue will be the third of its kind in recent years after Israel built the synagogues of Hurva and Issac Tent, the statement added. The Foundation affirmed that the three synagogues were built on the ruins of endowed Islamic holy sites, adding that the restoration of this synagogue aimed at Judaizing the general Arab scene in Jerusalem and minimizing the greatness of the Palestinian Islamic and Christian holy monuments, especially the Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock.