Mosque-Veto
A crowd of several thousand had gathered from 2am, hoping to be among the lucky few admitted to the third holiest Muslim shrine in the world. Israeli rules dictated that entrance would be limited to men over 50 and women over 45, but even these worshippers were restrained behind barbed wire fences as numbers swelled in the searing heat.
- Soldiers guard one of the lucky women to make it through
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
A trickle of fortunate Palestinians were allowed through the checkpoint, manhandled through a narrow bottleneck and given access to the mosque, but the vast majority would wait all day with no reward. Red Crescent paramedics were in constant action, dragging unconscious victims out of the crush into the nearby ambulances.
- Red crescent paramedics pull a woman from the crowd
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
Despite their swift actions, not everyone could be saved. Paramedics confirmed that an elderly woman died of heart failure, after being confined for several hours. An angry friend and witness told us; “the soldiers were hitting us and kept us trapped here like animals. This is our mosque and we should be able to worship but we are forbidden. They are racist, they hate us and they kill us.” The witness, who is 46 and has high blood pressure, had been waiting to cross the checkpoint since 3am but despite meeting the age requirements was denied access to the mosque.
- An Israeli soldier watches the crowd
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
As soldiers continued to detain the crowds, desperation increased and several women attempted to climb through the barbed wire, sustaining minor injuries. People at the front of the crowd were forced back onto the barriers. The widespread discomfort and danger of the situation was ignored by soldiers who made no attempt to police the chaos.
- Worshippers forced to pray on a nearby pile of rubble
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
The volatile atmosphere grew more poisonous as soldiers were seen to be laughing and mocking the worshippers. Several stones were thrown and more attempts were made to climb the barriers, all swiftly repelled. Crowds would not disperse until deep into the afternoon, but for all but a lucky few a sacred day of prayer would become just another of the insulting rituals they have become so familiar with.
Desertpeace 
Aufzuleiden said,
September 15, 2009 at 21:33
Someone should remind the Israeli government about what happened to the Jews who wanted to pray while they were in the Concentration Camps during the Holocaust. Religious freedom should not be looked at as a vague concept, it is a fundamental human right that we have; we have always had the choice to follow God or not, that is the freedom that He has provided. To deny that freedom to a group because you disagree with their choice is an act of cowardice and the height of bigotry. You may disagree with the tenets of another religion, but to deny a person the right to practice that religion? Shame, shame on you, Israel. You have brought a curse upon yourself that will not be lifted unless you restore the path from which you have deviated. You cannot act ‘in the best interests’ of the nation when those interests require you to violate the human rights of others.
It is time for Israel to stop acting like a petulant child and learn how to share. Either that or be sent to its room without any supper; no television or toys, time to sit and meditate on their wrongs so they can change their ways and apologize for their actions.
Now, more than ever, is an appropriate time for a renewed call for a boycott off all Israeli goods – supporting this regime is, quite frankly, untenable and the idea of a single penny from something I purchased going to support the government that kills innocent civilians, steals the homes of Palestinians, and denies the rights of anyone they feel like is unconscionable.
Last year, for the first time in my life, I burned Hanukkah candles that were made in China – the only option other than Israel. This year, not sure – but they won’t be from Israel (the Chines ones were crap – but … they weren’t from Israel).
Wie viel ist aufzuleiden!