It is good to see al-Jazeera back on non-HD terrestrial television. For coverage of world events, its rolling news broadcast beats the more parochial BBC News Channel. (Top of the shop of course is BBC World Service radio, but this demands full attention. I can see the TV out of the corner of my eye while otherwise working on the PC.)
If it had not been for al-Jazeera, I would have missed the Israeli authorities' spoiling in Jerusalem what should have been a joyous occasion for Muslims. Israel Hayom reports that there was "an early morning decision to allow Jewish worshippers into the site, which usually remains closed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to minimize friction between Jewish and Muslim worshippers." (The Temple Mount is a focal point for the three great religions emanating from the Middle East.)
The riots which broke out were aggravated by the presence of illegal settlers. The Jerusalem Post reports the predictable reactions of Muslim authorities and anti-Israel groups. It is hard not to see the hand of a discredited Israeli prime minister behind the provocative action as the nation enters another election campaign. Palestinian violence will strengthen the appeal of Likud and more ultra-nationalist parties who can be expected to support Netanyahu - if he escapes jail.
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