Palestinians try to go to Jerusalem to pray

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20769589/

Friday, September 14th is the first Friday of the Islamic holiday, Ramadan. Hundreds of Palestinians tried to pass through the two largest checkpoints of the West Bank as they tried to reach an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. Israeli troops turned many people away, only allowing men over the age of 45 and women that were 35 or older. These people had to have a special permit in order to go through as well. The Palestinians were heading to the Al Aqsa Mosque which is the third holiest shrine in the Islamic religion. Hundreds of Israeli police were stationed throughout alleyways and streets in Jerusalem’s Old City that is walled off. This is the location of the mosque as well as the Western Wall, the last wall standing from the synagogue, where many people of the Jewish faith go to pray on a daily basis. This seemed to cause a problem because the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
At the southern checkpoint, many elderly Palestinians were pushed up against the police lines. While many people broke through the police, many never had the chance to go to the mosque to pray. Many Palestinians continue to complain about how Israel is violating their right to the freedom of worship by restricting access to the shrine.
I believe that on Holy days, such as Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah, Palestinians and Jews would respect one another on these holidays. These holidays are considered Holy to every of the respected faith, and I believe that the Israeli troops should have let all Palestinians into Jerusalem that were planning on going to the shrine to celebrate the holiday of Ramadan.