War, terror, diplomacy: What if Israel takes Al-Aqsa Mosque?
Reports from Jerusalem suggest that Israeli authorities are taking over one of Islam's holiest sites, the Al-Aqsa Mosque. If they do, experts say anything could happen, from war to terrorism to ending diplomatic ties.
The foreign ministers of 10 Arab League countries warned of the potential for a religious conflict and broader threats to peace if Israel alters the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem. This holy site holds significance for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, and any change could reverberate throughout the Muslim world, according to the ministers.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Temple Mount, is the third-holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina, and it is the holiest site in Judaism. The compound has been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967. While Israeli authorities maintain that the status quo allows for intercommunal peace, recent reports indicate that Jewish worshipers are increasing and performing rituals on the site, which is forbidden.
Israeli authorities deny these claims and emphasize their commitment to the status quo. Any move to alter the status quo could result in violence, as seen in past incidents such as the Palestinian uprising in 2000 following then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon's visit to the site.
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