[Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News] Turkish Muslims flocking to visit Jerusalem

Ma'an has an article on Turkish tourism to Jerusalem, and being Ma'an, they have to add in some anti-Israel spin:

Thousands of Turkish citizens are visiting Islamic religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem on a yearly basis despite the obstacles they face, and the numbers are only set to increase in coming years.

What are these obstacles?

Thousands of Turks visit the Al-Aqsa compound in particular each year, especially during Islamic holidays, despite the intensive and invasive searches they often face by Israeli security personnel.

Searches? Every Jew who visits the Kotel must go through checkpoints and metal detectors, and to go to the Temple Mount Jews and non-Muslims have to go through a much more complete search to use the single gate available to them. I was not allowed to bring up much of my camera equipment during my visit there. On the other hand, Muslims have a choice of a dozen gates, and the last time I looked there was no metal detector or searching for them to enter, just a couple of bored looking Israeli guards.

Around 3,000 Turkish citizens recently came to Jerusalem to celebrate the day in the Islamic calendar that marks the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven, known as Isra and Miraj, a member of the Graduates' Committee of Turkey told Ma'an recently.

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Posted By Elder of Ziyon to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News at 6/01/2014 03:00:00 PM