An Israeli police raid on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday has triggered a livid response from Palestinians throughout the Occupied West Financial institution and the broader Arab and Muslim world.
The place and what’s the Al-Aqsa Mosque?
The Al-Aqsa lies on the coronary heart of Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis on a hill recognized to Jews as Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and to Muslims internationally as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary.
Muslims regard the location because the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. Al-Aqsa is the title given to the entire compound and is dwelling to 2 Muslim holy locations: the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also referred to as the Qibli Mosque, which was constructed within the eighth century, AD.
The compound overlooks the Western Wall, a sacred place of prayer for Jews, for whom the Temple Mount is their most sacred web site. Jews consider biblical King Solomon constructed the primary temple there 3,000 years in the past. A second temple was razed by the Romans in AD 70.
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Israel captured the location within the 1967 Center East battle and annexed it with the remainder of East Jerusalem and adjoining components of the West Financial institution in a transfer not recognised internationally.
Jordan’s ruling Hashemite household has custodianship of the Muslim and Christian websites, appoints members of the Waqf establishment which oversees the location.
Why is Al-Aqsa a flashpoint within the Israeli-Palestinian battle?
The Al-Aqsa compound has lengthy been a flashpoint for lethal violence over issues of sovereignty and faith in Jerusalem.
Below the long-standing “established order” association governing the realm, which Israel says it maintains, non-Muslims can go to however solely Muslims are allowed to worship within the Mosque compound.
Jewish guests have more and more prayed kind of overtly on the web site in defiance of the foundations, and Israeli restrictions on Muslim worshippers’ entry to the location have led to protests and outbreaks of violence.
Protests on the web site in 2021 contributed to setting off a 10-day war with Gaza.
WATCH: Israeli warplanes strike Gaza after Al-Aqsa Mosque raid
In 2000, the Israeli politician, Ariel Sharon, the then opposition chief, led a bunch of armed Israelis troops on to the Al-Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount complicated. Palestinians protested, and there have been violent confrontations that rapidly escalated into the second Palestinian rebellion, also referred to as the Al-Aqsa Intifada.
The views expressed on this article belong to the writer and don’t essentially mirror the editorial coverage of Center East Monitor.
