Ramadanandingdong

How many Muslims pray at the Al-Aqsa compound on the Ramadan Fridays?

This site has 200,000.

So does Ma'an.

So does Wafa.

Last year, 230,000 was reported:

And even 350,000 on the third Friday last year.

Even 300 Gazans were allowed in (how many Jews are allowed into Gaza to visit the synagogue there [yes, Jews lived in Gaza]?).

Here's from a news item the previous week:

Sheikh Omar al-Qiswani, the Al-Aqsa Mosque's Palestinian director, told Anadolu Agency that only about 100,000 worshipers had prayed at Al-Aqsa on the first Friday of Ramadan, compared to some 250,000 last year.

Here's a video clip taken from the top of the Al-Aqsa mosque:

Now, I ask you, does that really appear to be 200,000 persons congregated there?


_____________

UPDATE:

Check this out:

^

Jerusalem's Mayor To Engage in Militaristic Activity in Arab Territory

But it's for a good cause, a Muslim cause:

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to Fire Traditional Ramadan Cannon Jerusalem

Mayor Nir Barkat will, on Wednesday, 3.8.10, at 19:41 (sharp!), in the ancient cemetery on Salah A-Din street in Jerusalem, fire the traditional Ramadan cannon marking the end of the day’s fast for many of Jerusalem’s residents.

^

US Wary of Islamic Religious Customs

Just received:

Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens

The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has issued the following notice:

All Mission employees and family members are advised to exercise extra vigilance and avoid large crowds during the upcoming month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin either on July 31 or August 1, 2011, particularly in Jerusalem’s Old City. Extremely large crowds can be expected, with a correspondingly heavy police presence on Fridays during the month of Ramadan. Additionally, personnel should expect significant traffic congestion, delays, and detours around the Old City and East Jerusalem, and should seek to use alternate or bypass routes whenever possible.


Furthermore, Jerusalem’s Old City will be off-limits to all official Americans and their dependents each Friday during the month of Ramadan. U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. The U.S. Consulate General urges U.S. citizens to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

I wonder, could someone misinterpret that as Islamophobia?

^

But Not One Jew - Updated

Tens of thousands of faithful Muslims (90,000 according to Israeli police) prayed in a calm in the Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem for the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Source

Source

Tens of thousands of faithful thronged the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, with Israeli police reporting no significant incident. Police estimated the crowd at 90,000.

Source



Source

The Islamic Waqf estimated that about 80,000 worshippers filled Al Aqsa Mosqu and the courtyards, gathering under the shade of trees to avoid intense heat.

...Once inside, Sheikh Yousef Abu Sneineh led prayers with a sermon that focused on the month of Ramadan. He spoke against sin and vice, while commending those who fast. The Sheikh also addressed a comment directly to merchants asking that they not raise prices as is often the case during the holy month.

The last of the sermon dealt with American promises to stop Israeli settlement policy that have fallen far short on the ground. In reality, settlement expansion is up in both East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Source


P.S.

Five Arabs were arrested for disturbances ahead of the prayers, including a man from Issawiya for allegedly attacking a police officer who tried to search him at the Lion's Gate. The policeman was lightly wounded in the incident.

Jerusalem Police arrested five people, Palestinians and Arab-Israelis. One of those arrested is an illegal alien from the Gaza Strip. One of those arrested, an Arab-Israeli, attacked a police officer. Knives were found in the belongings of a man and woman who were arrested.

P.P.S. UPDATE

Did you think I iwas being too cynical?

Not enough.

Read on:-

A group of Malay-Muslim protesters claiming to be residents of Section 23 have threatened bloodshed unless the state government stopped the construction of a Hindu Temple.

Amid chants of "Allahuakbar," the group also left the severed head of a cow at the entrance of the State Secretariat here as a warning to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The "residents" said that the construction of a Hindu temple in a 90 per cent Malay- Muslim neighbourhood was insensitive because activities there would disrupt their lives.

They claimed that the "noise" from the temple would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims...“With a temple on our residential area, we cannot function properly as Muslims. The temple will disrupt our daily activities like prayers in the Surau. We cannot concentrate with the sounds coming from the temple,” stated Zurit.

(PPS Kippah tip: AtlasShrugs)