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Photos © Morgan Till

January 21, 2002 — Tight security rings the holiest site in Judaism, the Western Wall, and al Haram al Sharif, known as the Temple Mount to Jews. The sanctuary above the structure is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

Visitors to the Wall pass through metal detectors, their bags are scanned by X-ray, and the area is patrolled by heavily-armed police and military personnel.

Non-Muslims have been banned from the Temple Mount since the most recent Intifada, or uprising, erupted following a visit by then-Israeli opposition leader, now Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount, one of Islam's holiest sites, in September 2000.