Ariel Sharon On Visiting the Temple Mount

This video clip (01:21) from September 29, 2000 features Ariel Sharon, then Israel’s opposition leader, explaining his controversial visit one day earlier to the Temple Mount. Citing the holiness of the site in Jewish tradition, Sharon affirms Israel’s commitment to peace while demanding security, including the access of all people to their holy sites. Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount with hundreds of Israeli riot police sparked angry demonstrations from Palestinians, who were called upon by leaders to defend Al-Aqsa from Israel. Israel responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, and the violence escalated. This event is largely seen as the final trigger that started the Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada.