JERUSALEM
Palestinians have decided to start the fast on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia said the crescent moon has not yet been sighted, a harbinger and prerequisite for the beginning of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Discussions as to when Ramadan fasting would begin came to an end with the news coming from Saudi Arabia. Palestinians also decided to hereby begin the fast together with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon. The decision was announced on all Palestinian television channels.
Meanwhile, construction at Al-Aqsa Mosque has been completed to install shading sails in the yard of the holy mosque for people to pray in a cool environment during Ramadan.
Those who come to Al-Aqsa for the evening prayer would be given a fast-breaking dinner throughout the month and sponsorship has been undertaken by several organizations, some of them from Turkey.
Many Palestinians are expected to come to Jerusalem from West Bank with one-day permissions given by Israel authorities during Ramadan.