The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu issued a statement calling on the international community to prevent Israel "from dragging the region into a religious war by continuing its blatant assault on the sanctities of Muslims," referring to Tel Aviv’s reopening of Hurva synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Ihsanoglu said that the rebuilt synagogue was historically under a "waqf," or Islamic trust.

"The synagogue is erected in the heart of the Muslim Quarter, just dozens of yards away from the Western Wall of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, making crystal clear the grave implications of Israeli schemes that target the Noble Sanctuary and the future of the city" of Jerusalem, he said in a statement.

Monday’s reopening of the synagogue fuelled Muslim anger over Israeli policies, sparking clashes on Tuesday in Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank as well as protests in the Gaza Strip. 

-AFP/NOW Lebanon 

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