Jerusalem’s Holy Esplanade Reveals the Limits of Israeli Counter-terrorism
Israeli-Palestinian tensions are mounting, not just in Gaza and over the U.S. embassy’s move to Jerusalem, but also over Jerusalem’s Holy Esplanade, known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
- Ofer Zalzberg
- ICG
Israeli and Palestinian leaders could take simple administrative steps to reduce the risks of violence at the holy sites.
A series of momentous events in Israel-Palestine, both national and religious in character, risk spiralling into a dangerous escalation.
Since 30 March, tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have protested each Friday at the border with Israel.
According to the UN, Israeli soldiers have so far killed 40 Palestinians and wounded over 2,000 with live fire during the protests; Israel killed over a dozen more in unrelated events in Gaza.
The weekly protests…