Despite Arab rioting, almost 2,000 Jews ascended the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, on Tisha b’Av, the day commorating the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Israeli police initially banned Jews from ascending the Temple Mount on Sunday – Tisha b’Av – fearing Muslim rioting.
Tisha b’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is the day commemorating the loss of the first and second Holy Temples in Jerusalem, in 586 BCE and 70 AD respectively. On the same day this year, Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Adha (or “Feast of the Sacrifice”), which begins Sunday and runs through Thursday.
Tens of thousands of Muslims reportedly went to the site to prevent Jews from ascending.
Israeli police, following clashes with Muslim rioters, reversed an earlier decision and allowed the Jews to ascend the Mount.
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