Many Palestinians apply, but few get to visit Al-Aqsa for Ramadan
Though Israeli announces measure allowing some Palestinians to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan every year, applicants complain of opaque selection processes and poor odds.
RAMALLAH — Jamil Mahmoud Suleiman, 83, is still waiting in Jordan for a permit from the Palestinian civil liaison office to enter Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. His brother applied for the permit, taking advantage of Israel's temporary permission for Palestinians to enter Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. Suleiman hopes his request won’t be rejected like last year.
On April 22, Israel announced that 700 Palestinians living in Arab countries would be granted permits to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Suleiman believes this is his last chance to visit Palestine since he left for work in Kuwait in 1965. Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip after that. He was not included by the West Bank census that Israel took soon after and was therefore denied a residence permit. “I hope I will be given access to Al-Aqsa one day,” Suleiman told Al-Monitor.
Suleiman is one of hundreds of Palestinians who were displaced from the West Bank in 1967. If he does get the permit, it would only be for one day, and he would not be allowed to travel about in the West Bank to see his brothers or visit his native city of Nablus.
