Meet the 'father of the kittens' at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque
Meet Ghassan Younis.
Flanked by kittens, the 71-year-old's bag is filled with treats for the cats that call Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque home.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN FROM ISRAELI-ARAB TOWN OF ARARA, GHASSAN YOUNIS, SAYING:
"At first, I used to bring sweets and food for old people. With the help of God, anyone who would meet me, young or old, or anyone coming to visit al-Aqsa, I would give them some of the sweets. As you just saw, I moved to feed the cats and birds."
Younis' presence at mosque has been a common scene for worshippers and visitors flocking to the site everyday.
He takes the 90-minute commute from his hometown in the northern Israeli-Arab town of Arara, five times a week to feed the animals, a tradition that he has kept for more than 20 years.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN FROM ISRAELI-ARAB TOWN OF ARARA, GHASSAN YOUNIS, SAYING:
"As you can see, I prepare this food for birds, doves, for everyone in the sky, with the help of God, and the cats. This meat is for the cats."
Younis' love for animals has led to him being dubbed 'father of the kittens'.
He says the mosque's birds and cats all gather AS he enters the precinct-- and he has no plans to stop the intitiative--which he self funds, any time soon.
