The general secretary of Muslim-Christian Commission of Al-Quds Advocacy, Hassan Khater revealed yesterday the existence of 218 synagogues inside the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and that 70 of which are inside the old city.

In a statement issued yesterday, Khater accused Israeli authorities of escalating their war against Al-Quds, pointing that the occupation forces are continuing to build more synagogues and Jewish religious symbols in most of Al-Quds areas, especially in the old city.

He reaffirmed that some new plans revealed recently the Israeli intention to " build some huge synagogues beside the holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa to east of the ruins synagogue” that was inaugurated by the end of last March.

He explained that what is Israeli occupation is doing now, in Al-Quds, is not to fulfill a normal issue, but aims at changing the natural topographical image of the city and deform its special religious image that distinguished Al-Quds throughout its long history.

Khater also added that the occupation forces are working through their extremist and fanatic groups according to malicious and dangerous long-term plans to make the old city filled with synagogues, in particular, with the aim of enlarging and extending the Jewish identity of the Jewish settlement project, which reflects the reality and nature of the last colonization projects of our age.

He called on the international community, represented by the UNESCO, The Islamic Conference Organization, the Vatican, and the UN to shoulder their total responsibility in defending and protecting the historical identity of Al-Quds and its sanctuaries.

He also appealed to the Muslim and Christian clerics who are concerned with the future of Al-Quds to take the necessary measures and action through holding an international summit to study and confront what the Israeli forces are actually doing, and take affective measures before it’s too late.

The head of the Islamic-Christian group described the iron-gate closure, and the new openings between Jerusalem and the neighborhoods of Ar-Ram and Dahiyat Al-Barid as a policy aimed at displacing residents of Al-Quds from their city.

"This dangerous step separates more than 60,000 Jerusalem citizens from their city and has rendered their access to it very difficult and complicated," he added.

Khater explained that Israeli authorities have so far succeeded in displacing tens of thousands of Christian Palestinians through imposing difficult living conditions on Palestinians, in general.

He explained that the percentage of Christians in the Holy Land has dipped to just one percent, while it stood at five percent just decades before.

Ab.