Violence in Jerusalem and threat of escalation

Religious and historical significance of Al – Aqsa Mosque

Jerusalem is historically important for Jews, Christians and the Muslims alike. Al-Aqsa mosque is an important holy site in Islam, located in the Old City of Jerusalem. After Mecca and Medina, Al-Aqsa is the most sacred site for Muslims. It was built about four centuries ago, Al-Aqsa translates from Arabic to English as ‘the Farthest Mosque’. According to the Quran, it is believed that Prophet Muhammad travelled from Mecca to Al-Aqsa during the Night Journey, and then on to heaven.

Temple Mount, located in the compound, is a walled-in area dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple, built at the end of first century B.C.E. Jews believe that these walls were built around the summit of Mount Moriah where Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice.

Originally built as a small prayer house, the mosque was reconstructed by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik in 705 CE. After an earthquake, it was rebuilt again in 746, then in 1033 and many additions were made by the ruling dynasties of the Islamic Caliphate. After the Crusades, the mosque was recaptured by Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria, in 1187. It underwent renovations under various dynasties, including the Ottoman empire, the Supreme Muslim Council, and Jordan.

Though Jerusalem’s Old City is under Israeli control, the mosque has remained under the administration of the Jordanian and Palestinian-led Islamic Waqf since 1967. The Waqf is a religious trust that manages Islamic historical sites around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque Friday and Saturday left nearly 300 people injured.

History of violence in this disputed area

Al-Aqsa mosque has been a frequent flashpoint for violence between Palestinians and Jews. The mosque was the site of the second Palestinian uprising that began in September 2000 after then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon stormed the mosque compound with more than 1,000 heavily armed police.

On 07 May, Friday, more than 160 people were wounded when Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinians at the mosque compound. Protesters threw stones, bottles and fireworks while officers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades. According to the Israeli police, 17 officers were among those injured.

Clashes erupted again the next day outside the Old City of Jerusalem as tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers prayed at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Islam’s holy night of Laylat al-Qadr. About 80 people were injured in Saturday night’s clashes, including minors and a one-year-old, the Palestine Red Crescent said.

In 2015, similar clashes occurred at the mosque between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces after weeks of tension and a number of confrontations at the site. It occurred hours before the beginning of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.

According to Israel reports, tensions between Israel Police and Palestinians began on 12 April when police put up blockades preventing people from sitting in the Damascus Gate plaza — the most popular public area during the month of Ramzan. Later on 16 April, the first Friday of Ramzan, Israel imposed a 10,000-person limit on prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque, turning away tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Dispute over ownership of land

The violence is believed to have been fuelled by a dispute over the land ownership case. In the legal dispute, a key trigger for the recent unrest, Jewish settlers have been trying to evict Palestinians from their homes. In 1956, shortly after Israel won the first Arab-Israeli war, around 28 Palestinian families who lost their homes settled in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.

The Israeli Justice Ministry Sunday said it was postponing a hearing in a long-standing land ownership case that could see the eviction of Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Threat of escalation

The central committee of Fatah, the movement led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, warned Saturday night that “the continuation of the settler attacks on the holy places and the homes of Palestinian residents, their expulsion and expansion of settlements — will lead to an all-out conflict in all the Palestinian territories.

Israeli PM Netanyahu has isued stern warning of serious consequences if the Hamas does not stop rocket attacks on its territory.