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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel to limit worshippers at Jerusalem mosque |
| 2010-03-12 |
| JERUSALEM - Israeli police said they would bar Muslim men under the age of 50 from prayers on Friday at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, one of Islam's holiest sites, fearing clashes. The move comes after violent clashes at the disputed holy site at last week's prayers and fresh tensions over Israeli plans to build 1,600 houses in mostly Arab east Jerusalem. More cause and effect ... Men under the age of 50 would be barred from the Friday prayers, while women of all ages would be permitted, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP, adding that police would bolster their forces. “We are stepping up security in east Jerusalem after getting information of plans to cause disturbances,' he said. The compound containing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock is Islam's third-holiest site, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It is Judaism's holiest site, known as the Temple Mount. Last week riot police stormed the hilltop enclosure when the Muslim protestors threw stones after the main weekly prayers. The police fired tear gas and threw stun grenades to disperse the protestors, before skirmishes continued in the lanes and alleys of the Old City outside the compound. Several dozen people were wounded, including about 15 police, before the confrontation ended with the Israeli forces leaving the compound after negotiating with Muslim authorities there. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 The mere threat of doing this would make the Wahabbis lose their marbles. Did they have any left? |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-03-12 12:48 |
| #2 Israel could take care of many problems by doing two things. First of all "nationalize" all holy sites, to eliminate any pretensions of other nations or religions that they "own" these sites. This has led to embassy-like bad behavior, based on the idea of foreign holy site sovereignty. But that being done, Israel could be all "sweetness and light", in leasing holy sites to *responsible* managers. Not only would the lease terms include maintenance and requiring permission for any changes, but include a "good behavior" clause. In the case of al-Asqa, which is likely run by Wahabbis, Israel could bluntly state that any agitation or trouble making could result in the Wahabbis losing their lease, and management of al-Asqa being instead given to say, the Sufi faction of Islam. The mere threat of doing this would make the Wahabbis lose their marbles. The Saud family in Saudi Arabia uses this threat to keep the Wahabbis in line, offering to elevate the Sufis to be the official state religious sect if the Wahabbis cut up too much. Oddly enough, it would also solve many other petty disputes at the other holy sites, even between Christian sects, who get into brawls and stone throwing over square inches at other sites, timetables for services, etc. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-03-12 09:29 |
| #1 I'd like to limit it to genuine men (& women) of Peace---that is, to replace Al-Aqsa with a parking lot. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-03-12 03:20 |