India call for status quo at Jerusalem to be upheld

India has called for the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem to be respected and upheld.

Key highlights of India’s stand at UNSC’s open debate on the West Asia:

India at UNSC raised deep concern over the brutal clashes that broke out in holy shrines in Jerusalem during the ongoing month of Ramadan.
The historic status quo of the place must be upheld, stressed by India's representative at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the Middle East.
At the open debate, India also went on to call for an unequivocal condemnation of the gruesome acts of "obstruction, vandalism, and desecration, that violate the sanctity of the holy places, are it in Jerusalem, Nablus, or elsewhere."
India also appealed to all involved parties to "stop provocations and incitement" which could further worsen the situation.
India reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of "independent and viable state" of Palestine.
India calls for the implementation of the "two-state" policy, which will enable Palestine to live within secure and recognised borders "side-by-side with Israel."

Israel and Palestine:

Tensions are often high between Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.
- Gaza is ruled by a Palestinian militant group called Hamas, which has fought Israel many times.
- Israel and Egypt tightly control Gaza’s borders to stop weapons getting to Hamas.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank say they’re suffering because of Israeli actions and restrictions. Israel says it is only acting to protect itself from Palestinian violence.
Recently, clashes broke out between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem.
The clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Temple Mount.

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Location: It is located on a plaza at Temple Mount, which is known as Haram-e-Sharif in Islam.
The Mount is also Judaism’s holiest site.
Important Features:
- Dome of the Rock: It is the most imposing structure on the compound with its golden dome.
- Western Wall: It is also known as the Wailing Wall sacred to Jews, is one side of the retaining wall of the Al-Aqsa compound.
Conflict over Al-Aqsa
Major conflict site: Al-Aqsa is central to the rival claims over Jerusalem.
Capital: Both Israel and Palestine have declared it their capital.
In 1980, the Israeli Parliament passed the Jerusalem Law that declared it the country’s capital.
Palestinians declared Jerusalem the capital of the putative state of Palestine by a law passed by the Palestinian Authority in 2000.
The 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence also declared Jerusalem as the capital.
Administration: After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel gave Jordan the administration and management of the Al-Aqsa compound.