This is the Dome of the Rock, the third most holy site in the world for Muslims after Mecca and Medina. This is where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Inside, there is in fact, a rock, that is supposed to have an indentation of both his foot and his winged steed, Buraq, as the angel pulled him up to heaven.
Unfortunately for Jewish people, this is also believed to be the Temple Mount, the site of the 1st and 2nd temples and thus the Holy of Holies. That very same rock is not only thought to be the location of Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven, the place where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, and pretty much where any other rock-related story in the old testament happened, it’s also supposed to be the foundation stone for the creation of the Earth! Needless to say, a lot of people want this rock.
These days, the ball (or rock) is in the Muslim’s court. In fact the site is off limits to non-Muslims since there’s been quite a few conflicts inside over the years. (Somehow they can always tell we’re not Muslim when we try to go into these sites.) In fact, even if it was open, strict Jewish people are not supposed to enter because no one but the high priest was supposed to enter the Holy of Holies, and not knowing exactly where that was, it’s best to play it safe and keep out of the whole area. So instead they worship at the Western Wall. The Western, or Wailing Wall is believed to be the only remaining remnant of the 2nd Temple and thus the closest Jewish people can get to the holiest site in Jerusalem.