Mercifully, there were reportedly no “disturbances” on the third Friday in Ramadan, as some 150,000 (according to the Jerusalem Post) to 200,000 souls (according to Ma’an News Agency) managed to make their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of East Jerusalem for prayers. They came from East Jerusalem itself, from the Arab communities in Israel (particularly in the north), and — with great and greater degrees of hardship — from the West Bank
However, there were many more who did not make it. Dozens prayed on the asphalt at the outside of the Israeli military perimeter established around the entrance from the Ramallah side to the major Qalandia crossing from the West Bank to Jerusalem. A heavy-set Israeli Border Policeman in riot gear stood on a large concrete block directly in front of the prayer leader, frontally facing the bowing worshippers in a domineering posture
One eyewitness said that the Haram As-Sharif mosque esplanade was “really loaded, but could take another 200’000”.
According to this eyewitness, the Border Police in the Old City of East Jerusalem were on good behavior, and the public transportation was better organized.
It was also cooler – a definite hint of autumn in the air.
