Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount triggers unrest

In September 2000, Ariel Sharon, the then opposition leader of the Likud Party, visited the Temple Mount, a site of significant religious and political importance. His visit, accompanied by a controversial speech, provoked outrage among Palestinian Jerusalemites, leading to a rapid escalation of tensions. The situation quickly deteriorated into violent riots, with bloody clashes erupting around Jerusalem. The unrest was so severe that it resulted in the closure of Jerusalem Airport, which has remained non-operational since that time. The violence continued into October 2000, marked by further riots between Jewish and Arab communities, culminating in the lynching and killing of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah. This period of unrest is widely recognized as the beginning of the Second Intifada, a significant and tumultuous chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, characterized by widespread violence and political strife.