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Jerusalem's African community stands with Al-Aqsa

Jerusalem's African community, with its deep roots in the city, was active in the recent protests at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
African migrants take part in a protest opposite the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem January 8, 2014. Over ten thousand migrants gathered on Wednesday for a fourth day of protests against Israel's detention policy toward migrants it sees as illegal job-seekers. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY IMMIGRATION) - RTX176BI
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RAMALLAH, West Bank — As Jerusalemites protested at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque in July, in rejection of the Israeli decision to install metal detectors at the holy site, members of the city's African community offered protesters water and food. They also welcomed worshippers into their homes during the protests, as the hub of this community is located near Al-Aqsa, around the Council Gate (Bab al-Majlis).

Jerusalem's African community is relatively small and consists of nearly 50 families living in the Bab al-Majlis neighborhood of the Old City. The majority of the community comes from countries such as Chad, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. Their ancestors came to Jerusalem in successive periods, beginning in the Ottoman era and continuing into the British Mandate.

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