Yesterday we woke up, ate breakfast, and then visited the heart of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Just a normal day, right? Wrong. This is something that most Israelis and Jewish Tourists would love to do but think is nearly impossible. However, it was surprisingly easy. Prior to going we all made sure to dress modestly, in long skirts, pants and long sleeve shirts, and removed all details that might have given away our religion. I personally had to take off 5 different pieces of jewelry just to avoid any controversy. Yet once we did this and made sure we were properly dressed we simply went through security, something that is done in nearly every building in Israel, and walked up the covered bridge, something anyone who has visited the Kotel has seen before, to the Temple Mount. For many of us, this is something we may have never thought
possible before. We could not express our amazement to be standing at the holiest place in the world for the Jewish people. Instead, we expressed our amazement to stand in front of the Al Aqsa Masque and the beautiful Dome of the Rock, the third holiest place for Muslims in the world.
Though this was not a normal day for most of us, with the exception of being denied entry to the mosques, (something that has been forbidden to all except the Islamic people since 2000), we did experience a normal day on the Temple Mount. Our group stood in the middle of the plaza, in between the Al Aqsa Masque and the giant, golden dome. As we stood together learning about the history of this controversial place and hearing details of an unfamiliar religion, we witnessed Israeli soldiers being shouted at by hijab covered women, adding an extra cover to their face to hide their identity when being photographed. After the soldiers passed us, an orthodox Jewish family walked in, taking no caution as to hide their religion. They too were shouted at and were protected by police. Later on in our tour, one single man with a kippah on his head, escorted by several policemen was followed and screamed at again and again by these women, who clearly wanted and anticipated the attention, as they walked around the area. (http://www.icnext.org/2015/06/icnext-3-on-the-temple-mount-6-17-15/) All of this was happening as Muslim men sat around in study circles. While there is no issue in discussing your own religion, these men were not there for pure intellectual discussions. They were being paid. They were there because of politics.
Ever since 1967 this national conflict has turned into a religious conflict, which in the end has evolved into a political conflict and the main source of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. What once was about pure religion and belief has put two peoples against each other creating intifadas, wars, and thousands of casualties on both sides. And the worst part is that this situation has circled back. Instead of allowing both religions to pray as they wish, pure politics has literally been placed at the center of one of the holiest places for both religions. This place meant for both religions has become political fuel.