This graphic offers a visual overview of the multilayered points at which Israel blocks Muslims from accessing their holiest site, even during Ramadan. Although Israel proudly boasts of “easing restrictions” for access to the third holiest mosque in Islam during Ramadan, the truth is that millions (in Jerusalem itself, in the rest of the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip, and in other countries) are prevented from even imagining praying there (see Jerusalem: A Closed City). Gradually, over time, this access has been chipped away such that smaller and smaller numbers of worshippers can actually reach it.
At the time of this writing, for those holding a Palestinian Authority (PA) ID, the criteria for being considered for include being the right age and gender; having an entry permit; having a magnetic card; and having no “security blocks” in the labyrinthine computer system. Even those who meet all the criteria on any given Friday in Ramadan, when the restrictions are “eased,” can find themselves turned away if the arbitrarily set quota of worshippers for that day has been reached (for example, only 3,000 will be allowed to pass the checkpoint on any given Friday in Ramadan).1
And for those lucky few who are granted access to the city, they must shuttle in provided buses to the mosque area, pray, and then be sure to depart Jerusalem by 4:00 p.m. (as specified in the permit), return to the checkpoint by the required curfew of 5:00 p.m., and prove their physical presence by submitting a fingerprint as they exit the checkpoint.
After such an onerous and humiliating experience, it would not be surprising if worshippers were hesitant to return.
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