Tension Grew Daily In the Old City of Jerusalem Between Jews and Muslims Around the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount: The Jewish holiday of Passover, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and the Christian Easter, all at the same time, were exploited by extremists to encourage demonstrations and violence. Large numbers of police forces secured the old city of Jerusalem in general and the area of the Temple Mount in particular, trying to keep order. Tens of Palestinians were arrested while leading violent activities against Jews who were praying at the Western Wall and throwing stones at buses that brought Jews to the old city. On the other hand, police limited the number and ages of the Muslims on the Temple Mount. Police used force and riot control measures while entering the Temple Mount, which is an extreme move.
Jordanian King Abdullah tried to use his position so the situation would not get out of control and tried to push Israeli officials to let the Muslims pray with no interference. The issue was also at the center of the UN Security Council meeting.
Extremist Jews attempted to stamp their ownership on the old city, creating even more tension. The main leader of the extremist forces was MK (member of Knesset) Itamar Ben-Gvir, who insisted on exercising his right as an MK to march in the area, although all security officials claimed that his actions are only inflaming an already tense reality.
A closure was imposed on the West Bank from Thursday until Saturday night, for the second holiday of the Jewish Passover. This closure bans Palestinians from entering Israel from the West Bank.
Another Political Crisis in the Already Fragile Coalition, When the Arab Joint List Decided to Freeze its’ Participation in the Coalition: Mansour Abass, the head of the Arab Joint List announced that his party, of four seats out of a total of 120, will freeze its’ support in the coalition as a response to the events on the Temple Mount. The Arab Joint List is a party of observant Muslims, who, among other things, see themselves as the keepers of the Muslim rights on the Temple Mount. This declaration is not very effective, since the Knesset is on recess until May 8th. The coalition is now based only on 60 votes (out of 120), so every vote can potentially cause the government to fall. The Joint Arab List already presented a set of demands that will allow them to support the coalition again.
The Knesset will reconvene only after the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
El-Al and other Israeli airlines Launches Direct Flights to Sharm el Sheikh on First Day of Passover Vacation: as thousands of Israelis queued in long lines at the Taba checkpoint, on their way to Sinai, those who were quick to book a ticket on the inaugural flight to the Egyptian coastal resort arrived there in less than an hour. The first flight on a new direct route between Israel and the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh departed from Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. Currently, the Israeli airlines operate three direct flights weekly from Ben Gurion Airport to Sharm el Sheikh. PM Bennett announced the launch of the route last month, following an agreement between Israel and Egypt, according to which Egypt’s national airlines also operates a direct flight from Cairo to Tel Aviv. PM Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi first discussed the route when they met last September in Sharm el-Sheikh. The meeting marked a positive shift in the diplomatic relationships between Israel and Egypt. It is important to mention here that Israeli occupied the Sinai peninsula from Egypt during 1967 (six day war) and returned it to Egypt according to the peace agreement that was signed in 1979.
Strong Public Protest After a Famous Musician Expressed Racial Comments Against Mizrahi (Sephardi) Jews: Shlomo Gronich, a known musician, was preforming at a Passover Festival, when he turned to the audience and said: It is nice to perform here with you, when everybody is an Ashkenazi, and there is not one riff-raff in the audience. He later apologized, and his family explained that he is suffering from dementia. The Mizrahi-Ashkenazi divide is one of the bitter and loaded divides within Jewish society in Israel, and it is reflected often in the divisive political discourse between right and left.
Long Lines at Ben Gurion Airport and Traffic Jams – How Israelis Spent Passover Vacation: after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, hundreds of thousands of Israelis spent their first restriction-free Passover vacation traveling abroad and touring parks, beaches and museums. The media repeatedly report long lines and flights delayed at Ben Gurion airport as record high numbers travel abroad. Those who stayed in Israel, spent hours in traffic jams en-route to spending time with families and friends at national parks and picnic sites.
For Further Reading:
Al Aqsa Mosque: Here, here, here, here
Joint Arab List: Here, here, here, here, here
Passover: Here