Israeli Arabs to strike over al-Aqsa Mosque restrictions

The representative body for the Arab community in Israel has called for a general strike by all businesses and educational institituions on Tuesday over what it describes as efforts by the Netanyahu government to separate Muslims from the al-Aqsa Mosque, reports Israeli media.

The Times of Israel reported the development, writing that the decision to strike came at a meeting of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel umbrella organization. The meeting, held in the Arab town of Kafr Qara in northern Israel, explored various forms of protest before calling the strike.

Lawmakers from the Joint List planned to visit the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount on Wednesday, despite a blanket ban imposed last week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on lawmakers’ visits to the compound due to the ongoing tensions.