El ministro de Seguridad Nacional de Israel, el ultraderechista Itamar Ben-Gvir, visitó el complejo de la mezquita de Al-Aqsa en Jerusalén y dijo que había rezado allí, desafiando así las normas que rigen uno de los lugares más sensibles de Oriente Medio. He aquí un repaso a su historia, tanto para musulmanes como para judíos.

Jerusalem

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount, remains one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East. A recent visit by Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gavir, who prayed at the site, has reignited outrage in the Muslim world and drawn condemnation from Palestinian leaders.

The compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation under a long-standing status quo that allows Jews to visit but not pray there. Any perceived changes to this arrangement have historically led to unrest, as seen in past violent uprisings and clashes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the policy of maintaining the status quo remains unchanged, despite calls from some officials to alter the rules.

¿Por qué Al-Aqsa es un foco de violencia en Oriente Próximo?

La indignación se desató en el mundo musulmán después de que el ministro de Seguridad Nacional de Israel, de extrema derecha, Itamar Ben-Gavir, visitara y rezara en el recinto de la mezquita de Al-Aqsa en Jerusalén. La visita del domingo desafió las normas que cubren el tercer lugar más sagrado del Islam y el más sagrado más sagrado del judaísmo. Es uno de los sitios más sensibles de Oriente Medio. Al-Aqsa se encuentra en el corazón de la Ciudad Vieja de Jerusalén, en una colina conocida por los judíos como el Templo. y para los musulmanes internacionalmente como el Noble Santuario. El recinto domina el Muro Occidental, lugar sagrado de oración para los judíos. Aquí está Ye'ar Wallach, historiador de la Universidad Soas de Londres. Ahora para los musulmanes, es sagrado porque aquí es donde el viaje nocturno del Profeta Muhammad hacia el cielo. Aquí es donde pasó de la roca al cielo. Para los judíos, es sagrado porque aquí es donde se dice que tuvo lugar la atadura de Isaac lugar. En virtud de un delicado acuerdo de statu quo con las autoridades musulmanas, el complejo de Al-Aqsa... es administrado por una fundación religiosa jordana. Los judíos pueden visitarlo, pero no pueden rezar en él. Esta no era sólo la posición de los palestinos y el Waqf musulmán, que administra el el sitio y los países musulmanes y así sucesivamente, sino también la posición del gobierno israelí que no les importaba que la gente, los no musulmanes lo visitaran, pero otras personas no podian rezar. La idea de que este es un lugar de oración musulmán, si los musulmanes de repente empezaran a establecer un pequeña mezquita en medio del Vaticano, o judíos allí, creo que no sería visto favorablemente. Wallach dijo a Reuters que el primer ministro israelí Benjamin Netanyahu se ha estado moviendo más a la derecha y ha permitido algunas oraciones judías en el recinto. Pero Netanyahu dijo en una declaración después de la visita de Ben-Gavir que la política de Israel de mantener el status quo en el complejo, cito, no ha cambiado y no va a cambiar. Ben-Gavir dijo en un comunicado que rezó el domingo por la victoria de Israel sobre los palestinos. grupo militante palestino Hamás en la guerra de Gaza y por el regreso de los rehenes israelíes retenidos. por militantes allí. Reiteró su llamamiento para que Israel conquiste todo el enclave. Las insinuaciones de que Israel alteraría las normas en el complejo de al-Aqsa han desatado la indignación en el mundo musulmán y han desatado la violencia en el pasado. Un portavoz del presidente palestino Mahmoud Abbas condenó la visita de Ben-Gavir, que él dijo que cruzaba todas las líneas rojas. Tiene tal resonancia en la sociedad palestina que cualquiera que amenazara al-Aqsa era una causa para movilizar a las masas palestinas. Y muchos de los levantamientos violentos que hemos visto en los últimos 100 años, muchos de ellos en realidad ocurrieron en relación con al-Aqsa. Los enfrentamientos en el lugar en 2021 contribuyeron a desencadenar 11 días de enfrentamientos entre israelíes y palestinos, que terminaron con un alto el fuego el 21 de mayo.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

East Coast of the United States

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Washington on Monday under heavy U.S. pressure to agree to a swift end to Russia's war in his country, but determined to defend Kyiv's interests — without sparking a second Oval Office dust-up with Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Five killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not," after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

Anchorage

Trump told Zelenskiy that Putin wants more of Ukraine, source says

Efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional maps got new pushback from protesters at rallies across the country Saturday. Nearly 280 events took place in 34 states, according to organizers.

"Fight the Trump Takeover" protests held across U.S.

West Virginia's governor says he will send up to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital at President Trump's request. They'll join other National Guard troops and federal agents already deployed with local police on the streets of Washington, D.C.

More troops arrive in D.C. at Trump's request

President Trump reversed course Saturday, saying he is no longer seeking an urgent ceasefire in Ukraine, but now agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin that pursuing a peace deal is the best way to end the war.

Trump sides with Putin, preferring peace over ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin described his meeting with President Trump as "frank, substantive and bringing us closer to making the necessary decisions." But the Alaska summit couldn't have been more far removed from the battlefields of Ukraine.

War-weary Ukrainians desperate for a ceasefire

In Ukraine, many do not believe Russia's president Vladimir Putin actually wants a ceasefire deal. They say Trump should stop making concessions to the Kremlin and for U.S President Donald Trump to demand an end to Russia aggression.

Ukrainians sceptical of Vladimir Putin’s intention

Being a Category 1 hurricane, Erin underwent a 'rapid intensification' which helped the storm to grow and strengthen to a powerful Category 5. Hurricane Erin won't make a direct hit on the U.S., but it will produce dangerous surf conditions for the entire East Coast.

San Juan

Hurricane Erin 'rapidly intensifies' to a Category 5

The Washington, D.C., police chief will remain in command of the local force following a settlement with the Trump administration over the federal takeover, but they are required to cooperate with the White House's immigration policy.

D.C. police retain some control after deal with Justice Department

The Atlantic Ocean's first hurricane of the season, Erin, has continued to gain strength and currently sits off the coast of Anguilla.

Hurricane Erin strengthens in the Atlantic

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The leaders did not announce a peace deal, but Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

Trump, Putin meeting in Alaska ends without a ceasefire deal

Talks between the U.S. President and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without an agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, despite being widely anticipated as a possible turning point.

Zelenskyy set to meet U.S. president Monday after no ceasefire deal

For the first time in a decade, Vladimir Putin was on U.S. soil for a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump. The U.S. and Russian presidents were supposed to discuss a deal to put an end to Moscow’s war against Ukraine, but they did not mention a ceasefire after the talks.

Trump, Putin wrap up talks with no mention of ceasefire

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for a high-stakes summit over ending the war in Ukraine. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have coverage and analysis.

What we know about the high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin have arrived in Alaska ahead of their high stakes talks on Ukraine. The expected one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin has expanded to include U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio and other Russian officials.

Trump, Putin arrive in Alaska for historic summit

Israel's far-right finance minister approved the construction of a controversial new settlement in the West Bank, saying it "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state." But it's unclear if this move will actually go through. Rights groups swiftly condemned the plan.

Israeli finance minister approves new West Bank settlement

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in an interview that he hoped to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a second meeting but acknowledged there was a chance Friday’s meeting would not succeed.

Trump shifts tone, confident on deal to end Ukraine war

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. This comes one day before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump sounded optimistic about his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

¿Por qué Al-Aqsa es un foco de violencia en Oriente Próximo?

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Middle East Conflict