It's Unfathomable

It is unfathomable that the recurrent unrests in and around the Aqsa Mosque Compound are individual spats of violence unrelated to any larger picture. Anyone even slightly versed in this entangled conflict knows that every statement, every move in Jerusalem is laced with political overtones and is a tiny piece of a much larger canvas. So, the recent events in Jerusalem’s Old City can only be viewed as one more link of Israel’s master-plan for the city and for the Aqsa Mosque Compound in particular. For the second time in the past month, extremist Jewish groups announced their intent to enter the mosque and for the second time, Palestinian Muslims in Jerusalem staved them off. The prospect of Israel attempting to pull off something of the sort at Al Aqsa is not so far-fetched. Israel seems to have a policy of, “If we can do it, then we will.” There is no doubt that Israel, being the occupying power backed by the world’s only superpower, “can do it.” However, if it does decide to inch towards this eventual goal, it should know by now that the backlash will be severe. The burning tyres, stones and flying chairs are just a hint of what will happen should Israel try to take full control over Al Aqsa. Palestinians are sure not to go down easily if they go down at all.