"Thousands of Palestinians on Sunday gathered at the mosque for the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. The day coincided with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, which typically sees an increase in Jewish visitors to the holy site. A large numbers of Palestinians had gathered at the gates of the compound following reports that the police would allow Jewish visitors to enter the site."

"While some practice the Latin faith and mark Easter on the 21st of April this year, many others are Eastern Orthodox, and celebrate Easter on the 28th. Their traditional ceremonies involve a commemoration of Palm Sunday in Bethlehem, then a procession from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Christians believe Jesus was resurrected after death."