Friday Prayer at Al-Aqsa Amidst Heavy Israeli Security Measures

Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem witnessed the presence of tens of thousands of Palestinians who entered the mosque to perform Friday prayers on August 6. Although reports indicate that the Friday prayer was held with relative calm after two weeks of crisis, the presence of hundreds of Israeli police and security forces around Al-Aqsa and in Palestinian neighborhoods and villages in East Jerusalem reflects Israel's serious concern about the recurrence of unrest. The Jerusalem police command had previously stated that the harm Palestinians would suffer from a repeat of disturbances would be greater than that of Israel. According to Israeli media, the police had banned Palestinian men under fifty from entering the Al-Aqsa compound due to concerns about escalating tensions during the Friday prayers, although there were no restrictions on the entry of Palestinian women. The 'Noble Sanctuary,' which includes Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is the third most important religious site for Muslims worldwide and is also regarded with sensitivity and sanctity by Jews as the 'Temple Mount.' Despite relative calm until the end of the Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa, both Israeli and Palestinian media reported clashes in various parts of the West Bank between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces. The Friday prayers occurred as Palestinians celebrated their 'victory' on August 5 in forcing Israel to lift security measures at Al-Aqsa, although the entry of thousands of them into Al-Aqsa led to severe clashes with Israeli forces. The Israeli military's response, which included the use of rubber bullets and stun grenades against stone-throwers during the events on Thursday, resulted in dozens being injured and over 130 arrested. The new crisis over Al-Aqsa has left at least six Palestinians and three Israelis dead since July 14. Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, cut all contacts with Israel a week after the crisis began, and despite declaring 'victory' in standing firm on Palestinian demands regarding Al-Aqsa, he has not issued any orders to resume cooperation with Israel. Meanwhile, relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Jordan, which oversees Al-Aqsa, have soured during the past 15 days of clashes. Hundreds of demonstrators in Jordan on August 6 called for the cancellation of the 23-year peace treaty with Israel near the Israeli embassy in Amman. The Israeli ambassador to Jordan returned to Jerusalem a few days ago, and Jordan simultaneously stated that until Israel prosecutes a security guard responsible for the murder of two Jordanians who accompanied the ambassador to Israel, the Israeli ambassador has no right to return to Amman. Concurrently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Al-Aqsa crisis has faced criticism from over two-thirds of Israelis according to polls, drawing severe criticism from more hardline politicians on the right and shaking his position in Israeli domestic politics. Politicians from centrist and leftist parties in Israel have also criticized Mr. Netanyahu for ignoring the recommendations of the internal security agency and exacerbating the Al-Aqsa crisis. In this context, Netanyahu has called for the death penalty for Palestinians responsible for killing Israelis. The clashes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli police and security forces continue. An Israeli minister stated that Iran is 'behind the scenes stirring up trouble' over Al-Aqsa. The Israeli cabinet agreed to dismantle metal detectors from Al-Aqsa Mosque. The crisis surrounding Al-Aqsa continues, exacerbated by the killing of three members of an Israeli family. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police have intensified following the expansion of security measures at Al-Aqsa.