Roots of the conflict: Sacred sites, deadly disputes

(CNN) -- The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their independent state, while the Israelis insist the ancient city remain undivided and under their control.

But the root of the dispute likely lies far deeper -- and further back in time. The sacred sites in the Old City in east Jerusalem are a particular sticking point.

Currently under Muslim control, they include the spot known to Jews as the Temple Mount, the location of their religion's great Temple, destroyed two millennia ago.

The Western Wall, the sole remaining segment of the ancient Temple, is Judaism's holiest shrine.

VIDEO Temple Mount is long on history, short on compromise, explains CNN's Garrick Utley Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

The Arabs call the site by a different name -- Haram as-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary -- and hold it to be Islam's third holiest site behind Mecca and Medina.

Two mosques -- The dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa -- mark the spot from which tradition holds the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven.

The Israelis and the Palestinians each claim that only under their own control will the sites remain accessible to all.

Palestinians consider hard-line Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon's visit -- under heavy guard -- to the Western Wall on September 28 to have been a direct provocation, while Sharon insists that he has a right to visit the site as an Israeli citizen and a Jew.

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Israel Defense Forces
Addameer: Palestinian Human Rights Association
  • September 2000 Clashes Information Center
Live Western Wall Camera at Aish
Official Palestinian National Authority Web site
Government: Palestinian National Authority
The Israeli Government's Official Web site
About the West Bank
U.S. State Department

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