After UN's Palestinian flag vote, Aqsa violence reminds us Jerusalem still has a long way to go

Published September 13th, 2015 - 12:34 GMT
A morning of firebombs and tear gas at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa sparked outrage on social media Sunday. (AFF/File)
A morning of firebombs and tear gas at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa sparked outrage on social media Sunday. (AFF/File)

A video purporting to show Israeli forces storming Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque emerged on social media Sunday morning, renewing long-brewing tensions both online and on the ground.

Al Jazeera quoted witnesses and security forces saying Israeli police forces used tear gas as they stormed the mosque in the early morning hours in pursuit of "stone throwers."

Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said authorities were responding to intel about possible demonstrations at the compound ahead of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah.

The holiday brings crowds of Jewish worshippers to the site, referred to in Judaism as Temple Mount, Rosenfeld said police feared violence would break out during the Jewish event.

Meanwhile, Palestinians reported an unprovoked, early morning ambush at the mosque.

An important religious site for both Jews and Muslims, the East Jerusalem compound is frequently the site of clashes like these. But just as Palestinians found symbolic success at the UN last week, when a General Assembly vote allowed non-member states like Palestine hoist their flag in Geneva, Sunday's Aqsa clashes remind us of the very real problems still unfolding in Jerusalem.

See the video and social media backlash below. 

  

A worshiper reads the Qur’an despite the intensity of tear gas. #Al-Aqsa_mosque_is_burning

Tags:GenevaJerusalemPalestine State RadioGeneral AssemblyIDFUnited NationsIsraeli policeZaid BenjaminAli AbunimahMicky Rosenfeld
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