All articles tagged with #jerusalem
A six-decade agreement governing Muslim prayer and Jewish access at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa compound has effectively collapsed under far-right Israeli leadership, with arrests of Muslim Waqf staff, bans on hundreds of worshippers, and police raids during Ramadan, signaling a dangerous shift that could ignite broader tensions in Jerusalem and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas published a draft constitution for a future Palestinian state, establishing Islam as the official religion with Sharia as the primary source of legislation and designating Jerusalem as the capital and religious center while omitting any direct reference to Judaism. The draft reaffirms the PLO as the sole legitimate representative, guarantees the right of return for refugees, and includes provisions to care for families of martyrs, prisoners, and exiles (the pay-for-slay policy). It sets a civil-overseen security framework, bans non-government militias, imposes two five-year presidential terms with nationality/age restrictions, and envisions a Palestinian Monetary Authority. Public comment is invited for 60 days; Macron had offered to help, and Hamas criticized the draft as a rights violation.
Israeli security forces evacuated and began destroying UNRWA’s Ammunition Hill headquarters in northern Jerusalem, a central hub for UNRWA activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The move comes as part of a broader crackdown on UNRWA, with Israel’s 2024–25 measures banning UNRWA operations and a December 2025 Knesset vote to cut UNRWA utilities. Officials say the demolition uses existing Israeli law and that UNRWA-Hamas ties had already led to the site’s operations ceasing; the government maintains the compound has no immunity and that the action is not a new policy, merely its enforcement.
A deadly incident occurred during a large ultra-Orthodox protest against military conscription in Jerusalem when a bus driver, allegedly assaulted by rioters, drove into the crowd, killing an 18-year-old protester. The protest, part of ongoing demonstrations against conscription laws, turned violent with police detentions and accusations of rioting, highlighting tensions over Israel's military draft exemptions for religious students amid broader political debates.
Archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old mikveh beneath the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem, containing ash and debris from the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., providing a rare glimpse into daily religious life during that period.
A mikveh from the Second Temple period was discovered beneath the Western Wall Plaza, dating to around 70 CE, with ash remains from the Temple's destruction, highlighting the historical and religious significance of Jerusalem's ancient ritual practices.
Thousands of Haredim from the Eida Haharedit faction held a large demonstration in Jerusalem against the conscription law, with police blocking streets and deploying reinforced forces to manage the event, following a court call for sacrifice and opposition to the decree.
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested in Jerusalem against plans to draft them into the Israeli military, highlighting deep societal divisions and threatening Prime Minister Netanyahu's fragile coalition, amid ongoing debates over permanent draft exemptions for the community.
Israeli lawmakers have advanced bills proposing the formal annexation of parts of the West Bank, including Maale Adumim, despite opposition from the U.S. and international condemnation, with most of Netanyahu's Likud party boycotting the votes. The move has sparked strong reactions from Palestinian and Jordanian officials, emphasizing the violation of international law and the threat to a two-state solution, amid ongoing tensions and violence in the region.
Natalie Portman, speaking at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon, expressed deep emotion over the recent end of conflict in Jerusalem and the release of hostages and prisoners, emphasizing the importance of celebrating peace. She also discussed her career, her interest in technological innovation in the arts, and her advocacy for women's rights.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio inaugurated a controversial archaeological site in East Jerusalem, operated by Israeli settlers, amid protests from Palestinian residents and rights groups who see it as a symbol of Israeli settlement expansion and a challenge to international law and Palestinian rights.
Israel unveiled the fully exposed Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem's City of David, a significant archaeological site linking the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount, attended by Israeli and American officials, highlighting shared heritage and historical continuity, amid political controversy over its location.
Six people were killed and at least 17 injured in a shooting attack at Ramot Junction in Jerusalem, carried out by two attackers who were also shot and killed by police. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war against terrorism on multiple fronts, vowing to pursue and surround the villages linked to the attackers.
A shooting attack at a bus stop in Jerusalem has resulted in at least five deaths and 15 injuries, with the attackers shot by police shortly after the incident. The attack occurred amid heightened violence related to the Gaza conflict, with no immediate claims of responsibility from Palestinian groups.
At least six people were killed and several injured in a shooting attack at a bus stop in Jerusalem, marking the deadliest in over two years, with attackers neutralized by security forces. The attack, not claimed by Hamas but welcomed by them, has heightened security concerns amid ongoing tensions in the region.