Hundreds of Jewish pilgrims visited a disputed Jerusalem holy site on Sunday, just hours after Muslim worshippers battled briefly with Israeli security forces at the shrine, which is something of a controversial location for residents of the city. The Jewish worshippers had to be escorted under heavy police protection as there were fears further violence could erupt.
Although no one was hurt, the event has heightened tensions once more at the hilltop site, which is revered by both Jews and Muslims. Heavy fighting at the location earlier this year sparked an 11-day Gaza Strip war between Israeli forces and Hamas. If you want to take your mind off the conflict, check this out for free bets with no deposit.
According to the Jewish faith, the area is known as Temple Mount and is the former location of several biblical Temples. As a result, it’s revered by Jews and is considered to be one of the holiest locations in the city. At present, it’s home to the Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site. Because both religions claim the site as their own, there has been a lot of tension over the area. Over the years, disagreements outside and around the hilltop have regularly devolved into bloodshed.
On Sunday, the Jewish pilgrims were there to commemorate Tisha B’Av, a day of sadness and repentance in which Jews commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples, two pivotal episodes in Jewish history.
The site is protected by the Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem, and according to them, around 1,500 Jews visited the area on Sunday, far more than on most days. The Waqf accused Israeli police of using excessive force and claimed that some of the visitors had broken a long-standing agreement prohibiting Jews from worshipping at the shrine.
Earlier in the day, a small group of Muslim youths apparently threw rocks at security personnel who rapidly cleared the area. Israeli police say that as a result, Muslim worshippers were banned from entering the area for several hours. Some amateur videos that have been posted online appear to show security forces firing rubber bullets into a crowd in order to control the area and disperse the protesting Muslims. Rubber bullets have become a commonly used crowd-control device in Jerusalem and are an example of non-lethal force, although they can still cause injuries.
To address the issue, the Waqf issued a statement accusing Israel of “violating the mosque’s sanctity” by allowing “Jewish radicals to invade the mosque, give inflammatory tours, and perform public prayers and rituals. “The place is a fully Islamic Mosque that will not permit division or cooperation,” according to the statement by the authorities that manage the site. To make matters worse, the visit took place just days before Muslims celebrate Eid al-dha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, accused Israel of “dragging the region into a religious conflict.” Jordan, which is the guardian of Muslim sites in Jerusalem, said it had written Israel a letter of protest, urging it to maintain the status quo. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Daifallah al-Fayez, said, “Israeli attacks against the mosque are rejected and denounced.”
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s incoming prime minister, lauded police for their handling of the visit and promised to maintain the site’s “freedom of worship” for Jews and Muslims. His remarks sparked speculation that Israel was attempting to amend the site’s rules to allow Jewish worship. However, Israel’s Public Security Minister, Omer Bar-Lev, said Channel 13 that the country is dedicated to maintaining the status quo and that Jewish prayer at the site is “against the law.”
