In the lead-up to the Jewish holidays this September, the situation surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has reached a critical juncture, with experts expressing deep apprehension over a potential escalation in tensions. Thousands of Jewish settlers are poised to partake in what has been termed the “storming” of the holy site, raising serious concerns for peace and stability in the region.
Fakhri Abu Diab, a distinguished specialist in Jerusalem affairs, has voiced serious reservations regarding the evolving scenario. He has revealed that the Israeli occupation forces have systematically tightened restrictions and erected formidable obstacles for Muslims wishing to access the hallowed precincts of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in recent months. These measures are being perceived as a prelude to the forthcoming Jewish holidays, during which Israeli settlers customarily intensify their presence at the site.
Abu Diab has underscored that these settlers intend to further inflame tensions within the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the approaching holidays, leaving the region in a state of heightened alert.
“The days ahead are fraught with difficulty for Jerusalem, and particularly for the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque,” cautioned Abu Diab. He further highlighted the Israeli occupation authorities’ campaign to summon and take punitive measures against activists and religious leaders, including deportation, arbitrary arrests, and intimidating threats.
Jamal Amr, a reputable Jerusalemite researcher, has drawn attention to the situation by elucidating how the Israeli occupation government is leveraging the Jewish holidays as a pretext to perpetrate its aggressive actions against Jerusalem and its indigenous inhabitants. He pointedly noted that the spike in the number of intruders at the Al-Aqsa Mosque is accompanied by a glaring escalation in the public performance of Jewish biblical rituals. These actions, often carried out under the watchful protection of the Israeli occupation forces, have the potential to incite further unrest in the already volatile region.
Amr emphatically emphasized the significance of staying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a peaceful and spiritual form of resistance against the provocations and incursions being orchestrated by Jewish settlers during this sensitive period.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Jerusalem, growing increasingly concerned about the potential for further escalation. Diplomatic initiatives are underway to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety and sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque during this critical phase.
As the region braces for the upcoming Jewish holidays, the world’s gaze remains steadfastly fixed on Jerusalem, with a collective aspiration for a peaceful resolution to the mounting tensions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and an unwavering commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=48514
![Ariel Sharon sparked the uprising when he stormed al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem with more than 1,000 troops [File: Ammar Awad/Reuters]](https://daysofpalestine.ps/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/7db78e2abb694c61aa3443a28bad888b_18-120x86.jpg "Twenty-Three Years After the Second Intifada, the Palestinian Struggle is Ongoing; So Are the Israeli Assaults 6")
