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History Illustrated: The war on Al-Aqsa

By attacking the third holiest site in Islam, is the crisis-hit Israeli government deliberately creating a diversion?

the war on al-aqsa
By Danylo Hawaleshka
Published On 11 Apr 2023

History Illustrated is a weekly series of insightful perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into an historical context using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

the war on al-aqsa
During Ramadan recently, Muslims in Al-Aqsa Mosque were observing a religious ritual called itikaf.
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the war on al-aqsa
But Israeli police claimed some worshippers inside were ‘masked agitators’, so they stormed in with tear gas, swinging batons viciously.
the war on al-aqsa
The assault resulted in international condemnation—and retaliatory rocket attacks on Israel from inside Gaza and southern Lebanon.
the war on al-aqsa
Israel responded with an aerial barrage on Lebanon and Gaza—but many are asking, Why all this now?
the war on aqsa
Some claim it makes it easier for far-right Israeli settlers to enter the Al-Aqsa compound, some of whom want the mosque torn down.
the war on al-aqsa
Attacks on Al-Aqsa happen almost every year, but one added factor this year may be what Netanyahu’s government stands to gain.
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the war on al-aqsa
Huge protests against government plans to weaken the judiciary have been called the biggest crisis in Israel since the war in 1967.
the war on al-aqsa
But after the violence over Al-Aqsa escalated, protesters cancelled one of their marches, calling it an ‘intensive time’ for security forces.
the war on al aqsa
So, are Israel's raids on Al-Aqsa about so-called ‘agitators’, or do they serve to distract from a crisis of the government’s own making?