Israel: the esplanade of the Mosques closed to Jews during the last days of Ramadan

The Esplanade of the Mosques in Jerusalem.

REUTERS/Eliana Aponte/File Photo

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Again on Wednesday, April 20, Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and sound grenades at Palestinians entrenched in the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the part of the city occupied and annexed by Israel.

Strongly criticized by its allies in the region, the Jewish state keeps repeating it: it guarantees freedom of worship.

So as a sign of appeasement, like every year, he announces that the esplanade of the Mosques will be closed to Jews during the last days of Ramadan.

But this decision will not come into effect until Friday.

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem

,

During the last days of the month of Ramadan, Muslims practice “ 

”.

This is a spiritual retreat.

Palestinians

meet in the

for prayers and invocations.

According to them, their ritual is disturbed each morning by " 

 ".

This presence is experienced as a real provocation.

The esplanade accessible only to Muslims as a sign of appeasement

The esplanade of the Mosques is the third holiest place in Islam.

It is called Temple Mount by the Jews, who also consider it a sacred place.

But since 1967, and the conquest of East Jerusalem by Israel, the Esplanade of the Mosques has been subject to a status quo.

Only Muslims can pray there.

“ 

status quo,” explains the president of the Jewish state.

As a sign of appeasement, from this Friday, and for ten days, only Muslims will be able to go to the esplanade of the Mosques.

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