Israeli settlers raid Aqsa Mosque in latest provocation
Scores of settlers break into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli forces who take away four Palestinians working for a charity organization in Jerusalem al-Quds during a raid. Over 80 settlers raided the extremely sensitive site in the early hours of Sunday, in the latest provocative act. The move is considered to be an incursion under […]
Behind the headlines in Jerusalem
Jerusalem has been in the spotlight again recently as tensions reached the boiling point after the mid-July attack on Israeli forces in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem. Despite the apparent resolution of the immediate crisis owing to mass Palestinian civil disobedience, which forced Israel to reverse its attempt to change the status quo […]
Palestinians Urge ‘Day of Rage’ Over Holy Site
The Palestinian Fatah party, led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, called for a “Day of Rage” on Wednesday to protest new Israeli security measures at the contested Jerusalem holy site after a deadly shooting attack that killed two policemen last week. Israel closed the site on Friday after three Arab-Israeli citizens from the northern […]
Israel reopens al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Israel has reopened al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City following two-day closure after three Palestinians and two Israeli police officers were killed in a gun battle in the mosque compound. Crowds chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) as a number of initial visitors entered the compound on Sunday. The compound was shut down on […]
Israeli Raids At Al-Aqsa Mosque On The Rise
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, witnessed the highest number of Israeli raids in 2016 since East Jerusalem was occupied by Israel 50 years ago, according to a Palestinian news agency that cited Israeli statistics released Sunday. The figures depict a steep increase in the number of raids by Jewish settlers and extremists…
Palestinian Leader Claims Israel Denies Muslim Ties To Jerusalem
The Palestine Liberation Organization has called for Israel to respect resolutions by the United Nation’s world heritage organization that acknowledge Jerusalem as sacred to all three monotheistic religions, but only mention certain holy sites by their Islamic names. Three UNESCO resolutions adopted in the last 10 days refer only to the Islamic “Al Aqsa Mosque” […]
Israel suspends UNESCO ties over al-Aqsa resolution
Israel has suspended cooperation with UNESCO a day after the UN cultural body passed a resolution that sharply criticised Israeli policies around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, while supposedly rejecting Jewish ties to the holy site in occupied East Jerusalem. The resolution condemned Israel for restricting Muslims access to the site, and for aggression by police […]
Israel angered by UNESCO decision on holy site
UNESCO has renewed a resolution criticising Israel for restricting Muslim access to a holy site in east Jerusalem. The draft text repeatedly refers to the site, known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslim as al-Aqsa compound by its Muslim names. It is a move which has angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who says it […]
King of Jordan denounces ‘violations’ of al-Aqsa Mosque
Jordan’s King Abdullah II said on Monday that he stands firmly against any Israeli attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In an interview with the Jordanian broadcaster Ad-Dustour, the monarch promised to fight “repeated violations and attacks carried out by Israel and extremist groups” at the holy site. “We are continuously dealing with…the blatant […]
Why is al-Aqsa mosque compound a recurrent flash point?
Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem is one of the most sacred sites in Islam. The compound is also claimed by Jews. It has been central to years of political conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. On Sunday, hundreds of Jewish settlers and far right activists entered al-Aqsa mosque compound under the protection of Israeli […]