Palestinians hope for a calm Ramadan in Jerusalem amid tensions

Agencies | Jerusalem

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

With gallons of soap, ornate lanterns and fresh paint, Palestinian worshippers are sprucing up Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound in the week leading up to Ramadan, hoping that this year the holy month will be peaceful despite political tensions.

Old and young volunteers arrived from Israel, the West Bank and Jerusalem to prepare Islam’s third holiest site ahead of Ramadan’s expected start last Saturday. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, worshippers are expecting easier access to the holy site this year.

“Every year we clean the courtyards, the graves, the paths and the schools,” said Ibrahim Ayash, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, as volunteers behind him applied anti-slip strips on stairs. “We prepare the mosque ahead of Ramadan to welcome visitors and worshippers to Al-Aqsa.”