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Related tensions in 2021 boiled over into an 11-day Gaza war. Violence on the holy web site in 2000 ignited a five-year Palestinian rebellion and a fierce Israeli navy crackdown throughout the occupied territories. One of many first main outbreaks of Jewish-Arab violence occurred in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis within the spring of 1920, in what grew to become referred to as the Nebi Musa riots.
What’s it about Jerusalem? What’s it in regards to the hilltop compound within the coronary heart of the Outdated Metropolis recognized to Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews because the Temple Mount?
WHY IS THE JERUSALEM HOLY SITE SACRED TO MUSLIMS AND JEWS?
The Noble Sanctuary, dwelling to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the long-lasting golden Dome of the Rock, is the third holiest web site in Islam. It’s also the holiest web site for Jews as a result of it was the situation of biblical temples.
The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 A.D., with solely the Western Wall remaining. The mosques had been constructed centuries later.
Neighboring Jordan serves because the custodian of the location, which is operated by an Islamic endowment referred to as the Waqf. The positioning is open to vacationers throughout sure occasions however solely Muslims are allowed to hope there. That’s based on casual guidelines established after the 1967 Mideast warfare through which Israel captured east Jerusalem the place the shrine is situated, together with the West Financial institution and Gaza Strip. Israel, Jordan and Muslim non secular authorities helped set the principles, referred to as the established order. The Western Wall is the holiest web site the place Jews can pray.
WHAT’S BEHIND THE VIOLENCE AT THE JERUSALEM HOLY SITE?
The Palestinians view the holy web site because the final remnant of their homeland that’s not underneath full Israeli management, and so they concern that Israel plans to in the future take over the location or partition it.
Israeli officers say they haven’t any intention of fixing the established order that has prevailed on the web site since 1967. However the nation is presently ruled by essentially the most right-wing authorities in its historical past, with religious ultranationalists in senior positions.
In latest days, Palestinians have barricaded themselves contained in the Al-Aqsa Mosque with stones and firecrackers, demanding the appropriate to hope there in a single day, one thing Israel has previously solely allowed over the past 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Palestinians additionally say they’re looking for to forestall non secular Jews from finishing up ritual animal slaughter on the web site. Israel bars the traditional follow, however Jewish extremists have referred to as for it to be revived, providing money rewards to those that strive to take action.
In recent times, teams of non secular and nationalist Jews escorted by police have been visiting the compound in larger numbers and holding prayers in defiance of the longstanding rules. The Palestinians view the frequent visits and tried prayers by Jews as a provocation, and it usually ignites scuffles or extra severe violence.
This 12 months, Ramadan and the Jewish excessive vacation of Passover overlap, with massive numbers of Jews flocking to the location for visits that police sometimes facilitate within the early morning after forcibly driving the Palestinians out.
Some Israelis say the location must be open to all worshippers. The Palestinians refuse, fearing that it will pave the best way for Israel to take full management of it.
WHY IS JERUSALEM IMPORTANT TO ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS?
Israel views Jerusalem as its “unified, everlasting” capital. East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, consists of the Outdated Metropolis, with main websites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The Palestinians need east Jerusalem, the West Financial institution and Gaza for his or her future state, with east Jerusalem serving as their eventual capital. Israel annexed the jap a part of the town in a transfer not acknowledged internationally.
The destiny of east Jerusalem and its holy websites has been one of many thorniest points within the peace course of, which floor to a halt greater than a decade in the past.
Jews born in east Jerusalem are Israeli residents, whereas Palestinians from east Jerusalem are granted a type of everlasting residency that may be revoked in the event that they reside outdoors the town for an prolonged interval. They’ll apply for citizenship, however it’s a protracted and unsure course of and most select to not as a result of they don’t acknowledge Israeli management.
Israel has constructed Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem which are dwelling to some 230,000 folks. An estimated 360,000 Palestinians reside in east Jerusalem. Israel has additionally severely restricted the expansion of Palestinian neighborhoods, resulting in overcrowding and the unauthorized development of 1000’s of properties which are at risk of demolition.
Jewish settlers have additionally sought to evict dozens of Palestinian families from their properties in delicate neighborhoods in and across the Outdated Metropolis. A decades-long authorized marketing campaign to evict Palestinian households from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood culminated in nightly protests in 2021, contributing to the tensions that ignited that 12 months’s Gaza warfare. These evictions had been later placed on maintain.
Amnesty Worldwide, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli rights group B’Tselem have cited the discriminatory insurance policies in east Jerusalem in experiences arguing that Israel is guilty of the international crime of apartheid. Israel rejects these allegations, saying Jerusalem residents are handled equally.
WHY DOES VIOLENCE IN JERUSALEM SPREAD AROUND THE REGION?
Many Muslims view the violence at Al-Aqsa as an assault on the religion. It gives a strong rallying cry for political factions and armed teams throughout the area, who blame not solely Israel however the growing roster of Arab Muslim rulers who’ve made peace with it.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which guidelines Gaza, has repeatedly referred to as for a brand new intifada, or rebellion, just like the one triggered by an Israeli politician’s go to to Al-Aqsa in 2000.
This week the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza and Palestinian militants in Lebanon fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with worshippers. Protests have been held within the occupied West Financial institution and in Arab communities inside Israel.
Jordan and different Arab nations which have pleasant ties with Israel have condemned its actions on the holy web site. So has the Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on safety issues.
The U.S. and the EU have additionally condemned the violence and referred to as for restraint whereas saying Israel has the appropriate to defend itself.
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