Saudi cleric to visit Jerusalem?
A Saudi cleric announced on his television show on Sunday that he would be broadcasting his next program next week from Jerusalem. A Saudi Arabian cleric announced on television on Sunday he will make an unprecedented visit to Jerusalem next week as part of an intensive Arab world effort to claim Muslim ties to the city, which Arabs envision as the capital of an independent Palestinian Authority country.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said no applications have been made for a visa for the cleric, Sheikh Mohammed al-Areefi, and that they know nothing about his announcement.
Al-Areefi told his viewers that he would broadcast his next show from Jerusalem to discuss Muslim claims to the city. Saudi Arabia bans travel to Israel and is one of the most fundamentalist Muslim countries.
He said he was not afraid of any "treachery from the Jews," as he had put his trust in God. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said while he was not familiar with the case, Al-Areefi could apply for a visa from the consulate in Amman.
"Throughout the years many people from countries like Libya, Indonesia and other countries that don't have relations with Israel have visited Jerusalem," he said. "All these visits were naturally coordinated with Israeli authorities," the spokesman said.
Israel Matzav: Saudi cleric to visit Jerusalem?
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