The Farthest Mosque and the Farthest Place to Reach: Israel’s Restrictions on Al-Aqsa

As Ramadan comes to an end, many Muslim Palestinians are bidding farewell to the holy month far from Al-Aqsa, in an atmosphere marked by grief and restriction, following Israel’s complete closure of the Al-Aqsa compound following the US/Israel attack on Iran. But access to Al-Aqsa, the basic right to worship, has never been easy for Palestinians. What does it take to reach one of Islam’s holiest sites in your own homeland? In this episode of This is Palestine, host Diana Buttu speaks with Jerusalem-based journalist Zena Tahhan to unpack Israel’s escalating restrictions on Al-Aqsa and the Old City. From permit systems and military checkpoints to full closures during Ramadan, this episode traces how access to Al-Aqsa has been systematically limited over decades. It also examines the political and ideological forces seeking to reshape control over the site, and what that means for Palestinians today.  Thank you for tuning into This is Palestine, the official podcast of The IMEU! For more stories and resources, visit us at imeu.org. Stay connected with us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theIMEU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theIMEU/ For more insights, follow our host, Diana Buttu, on:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianabuttu