A preacher from Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, stressed his fatwa where has has prohibited people from obtaining Israeli citizenship. The Sheikh said: "The battle with Israeli has a demographic aspect, thus obtaining Israeli citizenship is contributing in increasing the numbers of Israeli citizens. It is considered as a recognition of it while at the same time weakens the position of people in Jerusalem." However, he stressed that Arab citizens of Israel are an exception as they were "forced to accept that situation." Sheikh Sabri also denounced the arrest and siege imposed by Israeli forces on the village of Isawiya for more than a month.