Islamic organization condemns Israeli tunnel near Al-Aqsa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An international body of Muslim nations has condemned the opening of an Israeli tunnel that runs beneath a Palestinian neighbourhood in east Jerusalem.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday called it a “bold and irresponsible move” that seeks “to alter the historic and legal status” of east Jerusalem. The OIC reiterated its position that east Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites, in the 1967 Mideast war. Its annexation is not internationally recognized.

On Sunday, U.S. and Israeli officials attended the opening ceremony for what they say is a 2,000-year-old underground route that led to the Jewish Temple, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is now located.

U.S. Ambassador David Friedman symbolically sledgehammered through a wall to unveil the “pilgrimage road.”