Recently, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, called upon the United Nations Security Council to “protect” the Palestinian people and the Temple Mount from the State of Israel. His request comes after weeks of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories, mainly stemming from the claim by Palestinians that Israel seeks to change the status quo on the Temple Mount.
For many people, and even those experienced with the conflict, a lot of what is going on and how it started is confusing. Many expert analysts are tracing this round of unrest and violence all the way back to the 1993 Oslo Accords, but the current conflagration truly began around Judaism’s High Holy Days back in September. It involves the Temple Mount complex, home to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.
The status quo of the Temple Mount is the promise that Israel will maintain the complex for Muslim worship and not allow Jews to pray there, although they may visit. This has been the unwritten agreement between everyone since Israel gained jurisdiction over the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967. The perceived threat to the Temple Mount came when Israeli officials conducted a raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque around the High Holy Days. However, this perceived assault is nothing of the sort. The Israeli government alleges Palestinian protesters were stockpiling pipe bombs within the building, according to The Times of Israel.
Throughout the past month of attacks, which has consisted of Palestinians stabbing Israelis, hurling rocks at civilians, shooting bus riders and an attempted suicide bombing, there has been a constant claim by Palestinian leaders that Israel is threatening the status quo. Despite this, Israel continues to work toward improving security for all individuals. After the initial police raid and ensuing violent protests, there have at times been limits on who can visit the Temple Mount by Israeli security forces. This is a rare occurrence, and only happens in response to violence toward Israeli and Palestinian civilians. While Israel works to improve security, Palestinian leadership encourages more violence.
A big issue with this period of conflict has been what the Israeli government calls the incitement of violence by Palestinians. Religious leaders, PA officials,terror groups and plenty of individuals have played a role in encouraging the violence. During this round of violence, a video surfaced of an Islamic religious leader preaching in a mosque, encouraging Palestinians to cut Jews “into body parts” while waving a large knife in the air. Individuals on social media who identify themselves employed by United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations refugee agency specifically set up for Palestinians, have shared videos on how to properly stab someone to inflict the maximum damage possible and images encouraging further violence against Israelis, according to non-profit organization UN Watch.
As the violence become less frequent in the coming weeks, both Israel and the PA must look for a more permanent solution, not one that simply delays another round of violence. This will not be achieved by the PA appealing directly to the UN or by taking unilateral action. Both sides must come together to find a peaceful, satisfactory solution to the current conflict, or this cycle of violence will repeat. Palestinian incitement must come to end, and the development of new Israeli settlements in the West Bank should be ceased. Let’s hope for a future where there can be a peaceful, two-state solution to the current conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Truman Brody-Boyd is a first-year in the College.
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