Occupied by Israel in 1967 but managed by the Jordan Foundation
Jewish believers often protest against allowing only Muslims to worship
The Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is a holy site for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
This place, which covers an area of about 140,000 square meters (approximately 43,000 pyeong) in the Old City of Jerusalem, is called Haram al-Sharif, the sanctuary in Islam, and is called the Temple Mount in Judaism.
In Arabic, Aqsa means “the furthest place,” and it is recorded in Islamic scripture that the Prophet Muhammad traveled from Mecca to this mosque overnight, prayed, and then ascended to heaven.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, which can accommodate 5,000 people at the same time, is believed to have been completed in the early 8th century and faces the Islamic Rock Mosque, famous for its golden domes. Muslims consider the entire area a sacred place, and thousands of people worship here every holiday.
In Judaism, it is called Har Habait, or Temple Mount in Hebrew, and is recorded in the Bible as the place where King Solomon built a temple. After the temple was destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt, but 600 years later, in the 1st century, it was destroyed by the Roman Empire.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the Old City of Jerusalem as a World Cultural Heritage site.
Israel took East Jerusalem, including the Old City, from Jordan and annexed it during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Later, Israel declared the entire city of Jerusalem as its capital, but it has not been recognized by the international community.
A Jordanian-established foundation called Waqf has managed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome for decades, and Israel recognized its management rights in the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan.
Israeli security forces have been stationed at the site under an agreement with the Waqf Foundation. Jews and Christians can also visit, but unlike Muslims, sitting on the floor and worshiping is prohibited.
Jews worship at the Western Wall, the lower part of which remains of the walls surrounding the Temple Mount.
Violence frequently breaks out in protest against the discriminatory measure that bans worshipers other than Muslims.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.