- Title: Palestinians celebrate near Al-Aqsa after Israel backs down
- Date: 27th July 2017
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS AT ENTRANCE TO AL AQSA COMPOUND VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN CHANTING MAM WALKING HOLDING PRAYER RUG (SOUNDBITE) (English) IBRAHIM ABU HADWAN, PALESTINIAN FROM EAST JERUSALEM, SAYING: "We follow the Islamic Waqf, they are responsible for us. If the Waqf takes a decision to get into the mosque we will go in, we have no problem, the Waqf will decide." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOUSA, PALESTINIAN FROM EAST JERUSALEM, SAYING: "It was a good step by the people in Jerusalem to keep praying around al-Aqsa. The Jerusalemites were united and hung in there. And we say to the Israeli government that this is a holy site for Muslims and as they have their own freedom of religion, Muslims (should) have freedom of religion too. They prevented us for a long time from having our freedom of religion but with the help of God and the people who stood here, the prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque in the afternoon will be for all Muslims, we will get in united because al-Aqsa is ours." VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SECURITY PEOPLE WALKING RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN FLAG PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS PREPARING TO DELIVER STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "Regarding the situation, we understand that the Thuhr (Midday) prayers will be held at the heart of the al-Aqsa Mosque. We will follow the situation in a detailed manner." GAZA CITY, GAZA (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) ENTRY TO PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (PLC) BUILDING IN GAZA PLC FLAG EMBLEM OF PLC VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN GAZA CONVENING FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT AL-AQSA MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS DEPUTY LEADER IN GAZA, KHALIL AL-HAYYA, SAYING: "Undoubtedly, the message of today is a message of steadfastness, confrontation and victory in the face of the arrogance of the Zionist enemy. Today our people prove they our stronger than the enemy, stronger than the occupation (Israel). But the struggle is ongoing until the occupation ends all its aggression against the al-Aqsa Mosque." TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIDDLE EAST ANALYST FOR "TIMES OF ISRAEL" AND "WALLA WEBSITE", AVI ISSACHAROFF, WRITING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIDDLE EAST ANALYST FOR "TIMES OF ISRAEL" AND "WALLA WEBSITE", AVI ISSACHAROFF, SAYING: "I think that the Israeli measures, meaning removing the gates, removing the cameras and even moving the last remains of all kinds of small barriers that were left over there, proved itself to be very efficient. I think it will be portrayed by the Palestinian side as a huge victory for their demands, for their struggle of course, for everything, and in a way they are right." JERUSALEM (JULY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECURITY IN JERUSALEM'S OLD CITY
- Embargoed: 10th August 2017 11:10
- Keywords: Israel Palestinians al-Aqsa Mosque Jerusalem security celebrations
- Location: JERUSALEM/ RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ GAZA CITY, GAZA/ TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- City: JERUSALEM/ RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ GAZA CITY, GAZA/ TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0026RHSSHZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinians in Jerusalem celebrated after Muslim elders urged worshippers to return to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday (July 27) when Israel backed down in the face of 10 days of often-violent protests and removed all security measures it had installed at the site.
Israel put up metal detectors, cameras and steel barriers at Muslim entrances to the compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, after the July 14 killing of two Israeli policemen by Arab gunmen who had concealed weapons there.
The extra security provoked days of unrest, with violent clashes on the streets of East Jerusalem. Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinians in the fighting, and a Palestinian man stabbed and killed three Israelis in their home.
Most Muslims have refused to enter the compound for the past two weeks, instead praying in the streets around the Old City, until the Muslim elders declared themselves satisfied with Israeli authorities reverting security to how it was before July 14. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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