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Tag: temple mount

  • Jerusalem Riot Disbanded by Israeli Police

    Israeli police mobilized at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem Wednesday, employing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a riotous protest formed by Palestinian Muslims, who were attempting to block Jews from entering the compound.

    Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that the unruly mob threw stones and firecrackers from atop the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. To Muslims, The Temple Mount is known as the “Noble Sanctuary” and is regarded as Islam’s third-holiest site. Israel captured the compound along with the rest of east Jerusalem from Jordan during a 1967 war, and skirmishes still occur at the site.

    Jews typically worship at the Western Wall, and while Israel allows them to climb the Temple Mount for visits, they aren’t permitted to pray at the site. The riot started when some Islamic worshippers barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque to “defend” the site from Jewish groups, according to Sheikh Azzam Tamimi, head of the Waqf, the Islamic authority that manages the Temple Mount. Jewish pilgrimages at times foster rumors that Israel is planning to take over the site.

    Here is some raw footage of the situation in Jerusalem as it escalated:

    Tamimi commented that roughly 30 people suffered from tear gas inhalation or had been hit by rubber-coated bullets, though none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

    Jews historically gather at the Western Wall during the Passover holiday, and police restricted access to the adjacent Temple Mount after Wednesday’s clash. Jews see the compound as the site where the two biblical Jewish Temples stood, and believe that one day a third Temple will be constructed. Muslims on the other hand believe that the golden dome of the shrine, called Dome of the Rock, holds the rock where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. The site has been the center of religious and territorial conflict between Israel and its surrounding Arab neighbors.

    Tensions in the area had already been rising due to the recent shooting of an Israeli police officer who was en route to celebrate the Passover holiday with his family in the West Bank.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jerusalem Riot Breaks Out At Holy Site

    Jerusalem Riot Breaks Out At Holy Site

    Israeli police were called to a holy site known to the Jews as Temple Mount and known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary today when a riot broke out. Because the two religious groups both use the site for worship, arguments and fights often break out.

    The riot that broke out was one of the more serious incidents to take place at the site and police said that rioters were throwing rocks from the top of the monument. The police used tear gas to control the crowd and stop the riot.

    The site remained opened after the riot, but was being watched by the police. Although the religious groups typically use the site at the same time, they usually try to avoid each other. Due to the Passover holiday, more Jews have been visiting the site lately, causing more tension between the groups.

    The Muslims believe that the site is where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. The Jews believe the site is the holiest part of two ancient temples that existed about 2,000 years ago. They also hope a third temple will be built on the site in the future.

    The Palestinians currently claim east Jerusalem and the Old City as the capital of their future state, but the site is the topic of peace talks that are planned to end at the end of the month. The U.S. has been trying to resolve issues surrounding the site for over 9 months, but neither side is willing to back down.

    Peace talks were scheduled for Wednesday, but had to be canceled because the U.S. mediator was unable to attend. They are scheduled to resume on Thursday.

    Do you think the two sides will come to an agreement before their deadline on April 29th?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons