Widespread Clashes in Jerusalem Following Entry of Several Jewish Extremists into Al-Aqsa

In the early hours of Sunday, September 22, the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem witnessed widespread clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians once again. Regional media report that the unrest began after the re-entry of a number of extremist Jews into the mosque area. These Jews are visiting the site under the pretext of religious prayers on the night of 'Rosh Hashanah', the Hebrew New Year, which begins on Sunday evening. The Jewish organization 'Heichal' (referring to the 'Temple of Solomon'; 'ancient Jewish temple') had invited Jews for this visit ahead of the Hebrew New Year. Uri Ariel, the Minister of Agriculture in Netanyahu's government, was among this group of Jews. He has personally been present in many similar movements by Jews ahead of each Jewish religious holiday. Jews believe that the Al-Aqsa and Umar mosques are built on the 'Temple Mount' of Judaism, and some say that during specific prayers and religious holidays, they must go to this mount. The Israeli police have also stated regarding the clashes that praying is a right of the Jews. According to the Israeli police, Palestinians who had anticipated that right-wing Jewish activists would visit this site had barricaded themselves in Al-Aqsa Mosque and prepared stones and other objects to confront the Jewish visitors and police forces. Meanwhile, hundreds of Israeli police forces have clashed with Palestinians around the Al-Aqsa sanctuary to, according to an Israeli police spokesperson, 'restore calm to the area'. General Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defense Minister, stated last week that organizations formed by Palestinians to counter Jewish prayers should be made illegal and their activities should be curtailed. Palestinian Muslims, who manage the mosques and Islamic sites in the area despite the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, claim that Jews have no right to enter these sites. In many previous Israeli governments, Jews were not allowed to enter Al-Aqsa to prevent sensitivities from Palestinians. However, the Netanyahu government has agreed to some limited visits by extremist Jews to Al-Aqsa for about two years. Less than two years ago, a similar attempt by extremist Jews to normalize these visits led to an assassination attempt by a Palestinian on a radical Israeli activist named 'Yehuda Glick'. Although 'Yehuda Glick' was not killed and only injured, this assassination attempt led to a wave of months-long clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem. The Al-Aqsa and Umar mosques are located above the 'Wailing Wall' of Jews and near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This area, which is less than a kilometer, holds great significance for followers of all three monotheistic religions worldwide, and any conflict or tension there immediately makes headlines globally. The Kingdom of Jordan, which is the chief custodian of Islamic sites in East Jerusalem, had asked Israel to prevent these clashes, and Netanyahu recently promised King Abdullah II of Jordan in a phone call to ensure 'calm' and no changes in the mosque areas.