Egyptian MPs on Monday slammed Israel's latest “unacceptable” acts including the inclusion of two mosques into the Jewish heritage site list. “All signs have shown that the Israeli government is obstinately going ahead with implementing its scheme to Judaise Jerusalem and obliterate its Arab identity as a step towards making the suggestion of a Jewish state a de facto reality,” said Safwat el-Sherif, the Chairman of the Shura Council (the Upper House of the Egyptian Parliament). He criticised what he termed as the absence of international clout “to rein in Israel”. El-Sherif also cited Israel's plan to set up 1,600 new housing units in the occupied Easton Jerusalem and the rededication of a synagogue in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third holiest site. “Egypt has declared its condemnation and rejection of these measures. It has also confirmend that the latest Israeli acts have been made with the intention of undermining the mission of the US peace envoy in the region,” added el-Sherif. He urged the Palestinian factions to “brush aside their differences and unify their ranks”. Meanwhile, the Shura Council called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the “explosive” situation in the region.
