Israel, Jordan: Pressure Mounts Over Temple Mount

The situation around Temple Mount, as the holy site is known by Jews, and Al Haram Al Sharif, as it is known by Muslims, reached a fever pitch July 27-28 after two weeks of buildup. A militant attack July 14 near the Temple Mount/Al Haram Al Sharif compound prompted Israeli authorities to briefly shut down the site, sparking continued protests and clashes. Israel reopened the compound a couple of days later but introduced new security measures such as metal detectors and additional security cameras, which drew backlash from both Palestinians and foreign governments. On July 27, Israel agreed to remove all new security measures, and worshippers returned to the site en masse....