Armenia MFA spox: Peace treaty with Azerbaijan will gain higher legal force than any internal law after it’s signed There is no territorial claim against any country in text of Armenia's Constitution: Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry counters accusations coming from Baku Ararat Mirzoyan to participate in session of Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries in Moscow The stamp, the first day cover and the souvenir sheet dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, a businessman, benefactor, the founder of "Grand Holding" have been issued. Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts Mirzoyan and Prime Minister of Palestine signed communiqué on establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries Lavrov and Araghchi discussed situation in South Caucasus Iran to take measures following Israeli strike on Beirut: Pezeshkian Our thoughts are with soldiers fallen on battlefield, their families, friends: Olivier Decottignies Four years ago on this day, Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh Papikyan participated in tribute event dedicated to victims of 44-day war Ararat Mirzoyan expressed condolences to Abdallah Bou Habib on death of Lebanese citizens 

Gaza war fuels Jerusalem fears as Ramadan set to begin

Publications

There are renewed fears of violence spreading, particularly to Jerusalem, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, as a truce remains elusive.

Hamas has reiterated a call for Palestinians to step up visits to al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel has accused Hamas of "striving to ignite the region during Ramadan", which is due to begin in the next few days.

The third holiest shrine in Islam is a place of worship for local Muslims.

 

But the site - also the holiest place in Judaism, known as Temple Mount - is often a flashpoint during flare-ups in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Ramadan is due to begin on 10 or 11 March depending on sighting of the new moon.

This week, the courtyards of al-Aqsa were calm as I visited, but Palestinian worshippers' minds were on the war.

"People don't feel like celebrating and enjoying the regular Ramadan traditions," said one woman, Ayat, sadly. "This year, they won't go ahead because of what's happening in Gaza."

Hopes that a 40-day ceasefire could take effect by the start of Ramadan have faded although Egyptian sources say mediators will again meet a Hamas delegation on Sunday to try to reach an agreement with Israel.

Israel said on Saturday that its spy chief had met with his US counterpart as it continued efforts to try to release dozens of hostages.

Afterwards the Israeli prime minister's office released a statement saying Hamas was "holding to its position," as if it was "uninterested in a deal."

A framework plan being discussed would see some of the Israeli hostages snatched by Hamas in its deadly 7 October attacks released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an increase in aid, amid UN warnings of famine.

"This Ramadan will be difficult. How will we break our daily fast and eat when we think of our compatriots in Gaza," commented Abu Nader, who had been following the news, as he crossed al-Aqsa in his mobility scooter.

"We pray to God for better times."

Israeli police are always visibly dotted around the vast al-Aqsa mosque complex and have officers present at every gate, controlling access.

Since Israel captured East Jerusalem, including this part of the Old City, from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War and occupied and annexed it, the site has become a prominent symbol of the wider Palestinian struggle.

In 2000, the visit of then Israeli opposition leader, Ariel Sharon to the sacred hilltop was seen as a key trigger for the Second Palestinian Uprising, which Palestinians refer to as the "al-Aqsa Intifada".

There are often clashes here between Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers, particularly during Ramadan.

Tensions also run high whenever there are Israeli nationalist marches in the Old City, and in response to calls from Israel's far-right to change the long-established, highly sensitive religious status quo rules at the site, which permit Jewish visitors but not Jewish prayer.

In May 2021, heightened tensions in Jerusalem erupted in violence at al-Aqsa. Hamas then fired rockets at Jerusalem, leading to a short war in Gaza and widespread unrest between Jewish and Arab Israelis.

Last year, when Ramadan overlapped with the Jewish Passover holiday, reports circulated that Jewish extremists planned to carry out the ritual sacrifice of a goat on Temple Mount.

Not trusting Israeli police to prevent that, hundreds of Muslims barricaded themselves in al-Aqsa and stun grenades were used against them.

This year, Ramadan does not coincide with any major Jewish holiday.

The far-right Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, did call for tight restrictions on Muslim Israeli citizens' access to al-Aqsa, saying this was to stop Hamas "celebrating victory" while Israeli hostages remained captive in Gaza.

However, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has now rejected the plan. He said that worshippers would be permitted to enter the mosque during the first week of Ramadan, as they have in the past, with the security situation re-evaluated each week.

It is not yet clear what numbers will be allowed to reach the site.

During the Gaza war, Israel has largely blocked Palestinians from the West Bank from entering Jerusalem. Typically, tens of thousands would pass through Israeli military checkpoints to attend Friday prayers during this sacred month.

The Israeli government spokesman, Eylon Levy, insisted that the right decisions would be made to safeguard freedom of worship.

"Ramadan is often an occasion when extremist elements try to whip up and inflame violence. We are working to deter that," he told the BBC.

"We will continue to facilitate access to the Temple Mount for worship as in previous years, make clear that is our policy and will, of course, work against anyone determined to disturb the peace."

Next to the gold-gilded Dome of the Rock, I met Dr Imam Mustafa Abu Sway, a member of the Islamic Waqf council, which administers al-Aqsa Mosque or Haram al-Sharif, which the compound is also known as.

"A few years ago, Israel allowed practically everyone who wanted to, to come from the West Bank and there wasn't one single incident," the scholar said.

"People do come to worship. They don't come to disturb the peace. If the Israeli police and security forces leave them alone, everything will, hopefully, be ok."

This year, even more than usual, the world will be scrutinising what happens in Jerusalem, to see if that is the case.

Հետևե՛ք -ին Youtube-ում`
Thanks to Karen Vardanyan's support of 119 million, two military sports colleges have been furnished with modern sports equipment and busesBusinessman and benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan was awarded the title of Honorary citizen of Masis communityRay Brown Jr. Yerevan More than 70 percent of referendum participants supported construction of nuclear power plant in KazakhstanSeparate meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is not planned: Armenia's Foreign MinistryRussia and Ukraine continue to strike each other's territoriesArmenia MFA spox: Peace treaty with Azerbaijan will gain higher legal force than any internal law after it’s signed A new concept for passwords: Why random character sets are no longer considered good passwordsThere is no territorial claim against any country in text of Armenia's Constitution: Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry counters accusations coming from BakuTime for a ceasefire has now come: Macron to NetanyahuIran announced suspension of some flights in territory of countryPresident Vahagn Khachaturyan paid a working visit to GermanyArarat Mirzoyan to participate in session of Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries in MoscowThe stamp, the first day cover and the souvenir sheet dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, a businessman, benefactor, the founder of "Grand Holding" have been issued.Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts Astronomers make sensational discovery that refutes well-known theses about dark matterEmily in Paris star reveals why she wouldn't wear her character's clothes in 'real life'Our martyrs opened for us a new opportunity of having a state: PashinyanBelarus, Russia plan to sign treaty on security guarantees: RyzhenkovMirzoyan and Prime Minister of Palestine signed communiqué on establishment of diplomatic relations between two countriesBaerbock and Bayramov discussed settlement process between Armenia and AzerbaijanLavrov and Araghchi discussed situation in South CaucasusIsraeli army called on residents of suburbs of Beirut to evacuate immediatelyHezbollah fired at least 65 rockets in direction of Israel: IDFIsrael is not in conflict with Lebanon: Representative of Israel at UNIran to take measures following Israeli strike on Beirut: PezeshkianOur thoughts are with soldiers fallen on battlefield, their families, friends: Olivier DecottigniesMeghan Markle was ‘demon’ as boss who had ‘psychopathic moments,’ ex-employees sayFour years ago on this day, Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-KarabakhHarris believes Ukraine should not cede territory to achieve peacePapikyan participated in tribute event dedicated to victims of 44-day warArarat Mirzoyan expressed condolences to Abdallah Bou Habib on death of Lebanese citizensMirzoyan presented to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia efforts to conclude peace treaty with AzerbaijanArmen Grigoryan and Charles Fries discussed issue of providing assistance to Armenia through European Peace InstrumentThere is still no decision on next stage of border liberalization processes: Mher GrigoryanLilit Makunts and Joshua Volz discussed cooperation between Armenia and US in energy sectorAll those claims that Armenia has agreed somewhere, in some document, that third forces shall provide security of communications on its territory, are simply distortion of reality: PashinyanBlinken-Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting kicks-off in New YorkFM statement at G20: Normalization of relations with neighbors is one of Armenia’s main prioritiesEconomy minister: Wheat production in Armenia is not economically expedientIsrael FM rejects proposals for ceasefire in LebanonIn the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus, we reserve the right to use nuclear weapons, PutinFrance stands firmly by side of Prime Minister of Armenia, MacronFrance stands firmly by side of Prime Minister of Armenia, MacronOpenAI launches long-awaited feature – ChatGPT voice assistantRussia supplies oil to EU by sea, bypassing sanctions: GreenpeacePrayer service be held at Yerevan's Saint Anna Church for Armenians in Azerbaijan prisons, their safe return homeMirzoyan reaffirmed to Volker Turk vision of Armenia to establish lasting peace and stability in regionIsrael shot down a Hezbollah missile fired at Mossad headquartersRussia should be forced to peace based on UN Charter: Zelensky
Most Popular