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22:02 GMT
CAIRO, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- Al-Azhar, Egypt's prestigious seat of Islamic learning, has strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist arson assault by an Israeli settler on the Church of All Nations in the occupied Jerusalem on Friday.
"This heinous act is driven by an extremist, terrorist ideology that hates of others and embrace violation of their sanctities, blood and honor," Al-Azhar said in a statement on Saturday.
The Cairo-based Islamic institution warned that this ideology represents a threat to international peace and security, considering it "no less dangerous than ISIS and other similar groups".
On Friday, an Israeli settler poured a flammable liquid inside the Church of All Nations then set it alight prior to being arrested by the guard of the church.
It underlined the need for action to confront such an ideology and prevent it from spreading.
The international community has to assume its responsibility to seriously and sincerely fight terrorism and condemn terrorist acts regardless of the religious affiliation of the perpetrators or victims, it stressed.
Al-Azhar regretted that the international community and international media did not pay much attention to such an attack.
This exposes the unfair policy and double standards applied in dealing with terrorist acts, it stated, noting that such behavior fuels terrorism. (end)
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