The latest flare-up in violence at the Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem has created an extremely dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. The provocation happened on Sunday with a visit by members of a far-right Jewish group which calls for greater access to the mosque compound and is on a campaign to build a new temple that have fuelled suspicions among Palestinians that the Israeli government is trying to change the status quo of the mosque.
The United Nations Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov has warned the Security Council that the three days of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces could spread beyond occupied territories. The Palestinian envoy to the UN echoed the statement saying the current confrontation would have ‘ramifications in all corners of the Middle East and beyond’.
It is the second time in less than two months that the Israeli troops are entering Al Aqsa compound, the third holiest site in Islam. The occupation forces had broken into the mosque in July to clear way for right-wing Jews to visit the compound to mark religious day. In both incidents, hardline Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel had led the extremists, a clear provocation that resembles a visit to Al Aqsa by controversial former prime minister Ariel Sharon in September 2000 that sparked the ‘Second Intifada’, a popular uprising against the Israeli occupation regime in which more than 3,000 Palestinians were killed.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Middle East War and annexed the city in 1980 which is never recognised by the international community. In the aftermath of the Six-Day War, a status quo evolved wherein Jews were sometimes allowed to visit the area they claim as Temple Mount, under the protection of Israeli forces but not to pray there. Israel had promised to ensure the status quo at the site.
Palestinians view the presence of Jewish worshippers and Israeli police as a provocation and accuse the extremists of plotting to take over the site. They believe that the ban on two organisations - Mourabitoun and Mourabitat - formed in recent years to protect the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque was part of this plot.
Since the occupation, Israel has been trying to impose their own rules and policies on Al Aqsa mosque compound that include restrictions on male worshippers below the age of 35 from attending Friday prayers. Jordan is the custodian of the Al Aqsa and the peace treaty it signed with Israel contains provisions on the protection of holy sites in Jerusalem. The international community must take urgent action against Israel’s vicious attempts to change the status quo of the holy structure and end the occupation of the Palestine territory that is the root cause of tensions in the Middle East.
The latest flare-up in violence at the Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem has created an extremely dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. The provocation happened on Sunday with a visit by members of a far-right Jewish group which calls for greater access to the mosque compound and is on a campaign to build a new temple that have fuelled suspicions among Palestinians that the Israeli government is trying to change the status quo of the mosque.
The United Nations Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov has warned the Security Council that the three days of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces could spread beyond occupied territories. The Palestinian envoy to the UN echoed the statement saying the current confrontation would have ‘ramifications in all corners of the Middle East and beyond’.
It is the second time in less than two months that the Israeli troops are entering Al Aqsa compound, the third holiest site in Islam. The occupation forces had broken into the mosque in July to clear way for right-wing Jews to visit the compound to mark religious day. In both incidents, hardline Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel had led the extremists, a clear provocation that resembles a visit to Al Aqsa by controversial former prime minister Ariel Sharon in September 2000 that sparked the ‘Second Intifada’, a popular uprising against the Israeli occupation regime in which more than 3,000 Palestinians were killed.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Middle East War and annexed the city in 1980 which is never recognised by the international community. In the aftermath of the Six-Day War, a status quo evolved wherein Jews were sometimes allowed to visit the area they claim as Temple Mount, under the protection of Israeli forces but not to pray there. Israel had promised to ensure the status quo at the site.
Palestinians view the presence of Jewish worshippers and Israeli police as a provocation and accuse the extremists of plotting to take over the site. They believe that the ban on two organisations - Mourabitoun and Mourabitat - formed in recent years to protect the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque was part of this plot.
Since the occupation, Israel has been trying to impose their own rules and policies on Al Aqsa mosque compound that include restrictions on male worshippers below the age of 35 from attending Friday prayers. Jordan is the custodian of the Al Aqsa and the peace treaty it signed with Israel contains provisions on the protection of holy sites in Jerusalem. The international community must take urgent action against Israel’s vicious attempts to change the status quo of the holy structure and end the occupation of the Palestine territory that is the root cause of tensions in the Middle East.
