Summary
During this year's Jewish Passover festival, there were seven recorded attempts by Israeli settlers to bring animal sacrifices into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a significant increase in such incidents. These attempts occurred while the Al-Aqsa Mosque was temporarily closed due to security measures related to conflicts involving the US and Israel. The actions have raised concerns about changing the status quo at the holy site, as settlers aim to perform religious rituals traditionally not allowed there.
Key Facts
- Seven attempts were made to bring animal sacrifices into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the 2023 Jewish Passover.
- This number is the highest since the start of the Israeli occupation in 1967.
- The Al-Aqsa Mosque and nearby areas were closed for 40 days, citing a “state of emergency.”
- Far-right groups used the closure to try and perform sacrifices, reaching the Old City borders twice.
- Israeli police stopped the attempts and detained at least 14 people on April 1.
- The sacrificial rituals are seen as symbolic actions by groups wanting to build a Jewish temple at the site.
- The Al-Aqsa compound is under Jordan's legal jurisdiction, which restricts non-Muslim religious activities.
- The attempts have sparked concerns about changes to the site's traditional status and control.
