The Middle East’s Most Dangerous Chokepoint Has No Oil
A quiet battle over prayer and police control at Jerusalem’s holiest sites forces the Middle East to confront another chokepoint.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in the Middle East, rarely features in conversations about oil and commerce. However, another region in the area, Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa compound, is gaining attention due to shifting control dynamics. The compound, which encompasses sacred sites for both Muslims and Jews, has long been a point of delicate agreement between Israel and Jordan.
Israeli police, under the leadership of hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have begun to alter the rules governing access to the site, potentially intensifying regional tensions.
Jordan is now hosting a gathering of representatives from 13 Arab and Islamic nations to discuss how to address the evolving situation at the Al-Aqsa compound. The concern is that Israel's increasing control could lead to more conflict between the Jewish state and the Muslim world. The worst-case scenario remains difficult to contemplate.
Historically, control over the Al-Aqsa compound has been maintained through a delicate arrangement known as the "status quo." This agreement has allowed Muslims to pray at the compound with minimal restrictions, while non-Muslims, including Jews, were only permitted limited visiting hours. However, recent changes by the Israeli police under Ben Gvir's direction have begun to shift this delicate balance.
The Israeli police have recently started allowing Jewish worshippers to bring prayer materials onto the Temple Mount and have extended visiting hours for Jews and tourists. These changes have been accompanied by reports of increased Israeli police presence, detentions, and restrictions on Muslim access to the compound. Earlier this month, Israeli police chief Ben Gvir even declared on Tisha B'Av that Jews are the rightful owners of the Temple Mount.
The potential for conflict over the Al-Aqsa compound is significant, not only for Israel and Jordan but also for the broader Muslim world. The meeting of Arab and Islamic nations in Jordan aims to formulate a unified response to Israel's actions. While the outcome remains uncertain, the evolving situation at this holy site could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and international relations.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
