Al Aqsa, Jerusalem unite Palestinians again
Jerusalem has succeeded in uniting Palestinians — whether citizens of Israel or in the diaspora — and has caused the exposure of Israeli racism towards 20% of its population who are not Jews.
When late Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in September 2000 produced protests that were put down harshly by Israeli security forces, Palestinian citizens in Israel rose up to protest. Thirteen Palestinians in Israel were brutally killed by Israeli soldiers trying — unsuccessfully — to quash what has become known as the Aqsa Intifada.
That scenario appears to have been repeated again with Jerusalem and Al Aqsa, yet Palestinians outside the holy city are showing even greater energy and commitment to supporting their fellow Palestinians in Jerusalem. But unlike the situation in 2000, the vast majority of opposition to these Palestinians has come from an unwieldy mob of Jewish extremists, with the Israeli police largely looking the other way or making symbolic intervention.
