• October 26, 2015
• Al-Aqsa
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In early October 2015, tensions in Jerusalem reached a boiling point following statements from some Israeli politicians and activists advocating for greater Jewish access to the compound, as well as rumors that Israel was planning to allow Jewish worshippers to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Violent Clashes Erupt

On October 4, 2015, violent clashes erupted when Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse the crowds. Dozens of Palestinians were injured during the clashes, and several others were arrested.

Restrictions on Access

In the days and weeks that followed, Israeli authorities imposed additional restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. One particularly controversial measure involved barring Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering the site. This decision was widely perceived by Palestinians as an attempt to suppress protests and tighten control over the mosque. It further inflamed tensions and deepened the sense of grievance among Palestinians, who viewed the restrictions as an affront to their religious rights.

International Reactions

The events at Al-Aqsa Mosque quickly drew international attention and condemnation. Jordan, which holds custodial rights over the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem under a special agreement with Israel, issued strong criticism of Israel’s actions. Jordanian officials called for calm while urging Israel to respect the status quo at the site.

Similarly, the Arab League condemned what it described as Israeli violations of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Arab leaders warned that any attempts to alter the existing arrangements governing access to the compound could have severe consequences for regional stability.

Palestinian leaders accused Israel of deliberately attempting to change the status quo at the site. Protests and demonstrations spread beyond Jerusalem, igniting broader waves of protest and resistance across the occupied territories.

Following this new aggression toward Palestine, Israel’s actions caused outrage among Palestinians, leading to increased resistance. In response, Israel pushed back, killing over 200 Palestinians, which became an extension of the long chain of bloodshed caused by Israel’s actions.

Voices of Dissent: Anti-Zionist Jews Speak Out

Amid the escalating tensions, anti-Zionist Jews in New York City, London, and Jerusalem emerged publicly to voice their opposition to the policies fueling the crisis. At numerous events, press conferences, and rallies, these Jews sought to highlight the true source of the bloodshed plaguing Palestine and the broader region. They argued that the Zionist movement had perpetuated decades of suffering through its colonial ambitions and militaristic approach.

Anti-Zionist Jews emphasized that achieving lasting peace in Palestine—and indeed, around the world—would require dismantling the state of Israel, which is a movement of oppression upheld by Zionism.

They made clear that the world needed to remember that Jews and Palestinians had lived in peace until the rise of the Zionist movement.

They also made clear that Zionism goes against the basics of Jewish belief and that Zionism and Judaism are not the same.

At that time, Neturei Karta published the well-known letter by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, which was printed on November 22, 1929, in Arabic in the leading Arab newspaper. In it, he wrote: “The Jews do not want, in any way, to take that which isn’t theirs. And they certainly don’t want to contest the rights of the other inhabitants to the places held by them, which they regard with honor and consider holy. And in particular, there is no foundation to the rumor that the Jews want to acquire the ‘Temple Mount.'”